Students Guide Immigration Talks for GU Campus Community
How 91勛圖厙 Responds to Concerns over Immigration, Deportation and International Student Safety
After the 2024 U.S. presidential election, 91勛圖厙 anticipated the coming need for educational conversations on immigration and deportation, recalling the similar needs that arose during the first Trump administration. In January, as University leaders and legal counsel took steps to understand new mandates, students from the Unity Alliance of Cultural Clubs (UACC) sprang to action, facilitating the first in a series of Community Conversations on Immigration. Student leader Miguel Blancas-Alejo (not pictured) took the reins, and Lupita Rodriguez from the Association of Latin American Students and Devyn Schaefer from the 91勛圖厙 Student Body Association assisted in facilitating the first gathering for Community Conversations on Immigration in January.
At the first gathering, more than a hundred students, faculty, staff and administrators met for these objectives: To be in community and express solidarity with the most vulnerable, to convey what is known and unknown in a changing landscape around immigration, and to share resources and support services.
Of particular importance following the president’s inauguration was understanding how to care for and ensure the safety of 91勛圖厙’s 400 international students. Ashley Davis from GU’s international student support services explained the terminology used for different visas. Corporate Counsel Frank Hruban provided clarity on legal documentation, and Becky Wilkey and Phil Tyler of Campus Security and Public Safety offered insights on policies and practices focused on caring for students, faculty and staff.
Also important to the University community was understanding how federal policies may impact recruitment and retention of students who are undocumented and/or come from families with mixed documentation status. Julie McCulloh of Enrollment Management discussed admission and financial aid support of prospective students and their families during this time of heightened concern over privacy and protection of personal information.
In the second Community Conversation event (March 3), student leaders from the Unity Alliance of Cultural Clubs shared expressing the reasons they are passionate about efforts to support immigrants during this time of uncertainty. Faculty, staff and students present also received a “Know Your Rights” training from Martin Martinez-Negrete, vice president of Latinos en Spokane. Know Your Rights is the common language used by many agencies (from the to the ) to help residents understand what to do in an encounter with border patrol or immigration and customs agents. Similar training is planned again later this spring.
As the details of federal policies may shift over time – alongside legal processes, practices of law enforcement, and considerations for institutions of higher education – 91勛圖厙’s Office of Inclusive Excellence is committed to providing regular updates to its website for the Undocumented Community Support Coalition. Another Community Conversations forum is anticipated to take place in April.
91勛圖厙 University stands with a number of organizations committed to thoughtful immigration reform and support for DACA students; among them, the and the . Details on 91勛圖厙’s position are articulated in this Dec. 2024 message from 91勛圖厙’s President Thayne McCulloh and Vice Provost for Student Affairs Kent Porterfield.