BUFFALO, N.Y. -- ECC President Dan Hocoy knows firsthand what it's like to be an undocumented immigrant.

"I identify with my students who are undocumented. I was born in Trinidad and Tobago, my mother was born in Malaysia, my father was born on China and my grandmother was born in Jamaica," said Hocoy.

Hocoy eventually became a U.S. citizen, earned a degree in clinical psychology and this year was named President of ECC. In that role, Hocoy wants to ensure that all his students including immigrants protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program have the same opportunity he had to achieve the American Dream.

"Among our colleges students and graduates are those protected under DACA. They are no different from me or other immigrants who came to America for a better life and are now contributing to the country's economy and Western New York's renaissance," said Hocoy.  

In a show of the school's commitment to those dreamers, leaders unveiled this banner one block from ECC's city campus at the corner of Elm and South Division. It reads: “Hate Has No Home Here".

"We will stand up to ignorance, we will stand up to discrimination, we will stand up to fear, and say we will not tolerate that here. Hate has no home in Erie County, hate has no home in the new SUNY ECC," said Mark Poloncarz, (D) Erie County Executive.

A 21-year old student, Suzanne Farea, is an American citizen who was born in Yemen. She worries about her friends protected under DACA    

"They're losing a lot of opportunities. We have great students with bright minds, and it's just very disappointing," said Farea.

Despite President Trump's decision to dismantle DACA being challenged in several state courts and Congress having six months to come up with a fix for "Dreamers," ECC and county leaders say they want immigrants to know they're always welcome here.   

"I think they are an integral part of our society and I think that we need to make a stand and we need to make a statement today," said Hocoy.

Hocoy says they'll put up similar banners at the school's north and south campuses.