Putting a face to the debate over undocumented students in the United States “seems unwise” to some; however, supporters for immigration reform believe it may be crucial to progress.
The role of personal narrative, along with information and awareness, were all central themes during the First Annual Macaulay Students for Immigration Education Reform (S.I.E.R.) Conference.
The conference was a collaborative effort between Macaulay and Arizona State University’s Barrett Honors College, after Deans Ann Kirschner and Mark Jacobs agreed to bring together students from both programs to tackle the issue of immigration and education reform.
“We both had a sense of where immigration stood for our student bodies and discovered two very powerful streams of thinking,” said Dean Kirschner. “Then we thought, ‘Is this the sort of thing we should really be doing at an honors college? Hell yes.'”
New York City Councilman Daniel Dromm delivered the keynote address, detailing the measures New York state is taking towards reforms for undocumented students, such as the New York DREAM Act and the DREAM Fund, pieces of legislation that would allow undocumented students access to funding, such as TAP and private donations, to use towards college tuition. He is the chairman of the Council’s Immigration Committee.
Councilman Dromm related the fight for immigration reform to his own experiences advocating on behalf of the LGBT community; a trained teacher, Dromm was one of the first openly gay council members from outside of Manhattan, and faced harassment and discrimination in college for coming out.
He advised both undocumented students and supporters of the DREAM Act to propel the movement foward by reaching out to others through storytelling.
“Plant the seeds and never settle for your fight for what is just. Only full equality will suffice,” said Dromm. “The most compelling argument is the personal story you can tell. Don’t stay with your own, go beyond; go to areas you won’t expect to make progress.”
As the conference explored the myths surrounding undocumented students and immigration reform, many suggested personifying the issue may effectively inform people and garner support.
“A common element of this conference is information and awareness,” said Luis De La Cruz (ASU/Barrett ’13). “And what’s interesting is that there will be people who perhaps we can’t change how they think…but I’ve found that when you bring the issue home to somebody, when it’s your neighbor, when it becomes one of your child’s friends, perceptions start to shift.”
Multiple panels focused on misconceptions surrounding the immigration debate, including how undocumented immigrants effect the economy. Maisha Lopa (Hunter ’13) noted that the passage of the NYS DREAM Act would only increase TAP funding by 2%, which would add $1.34 to taxes for those making $60,000-$75,000, and $3.44 for those making $100,000 or higher.
“Pure economics cannot and does not account for the outcome of immigration policies,” said Lopa.
Throughout the day, participants made policy recommendations to address the problems of undocumented students, including reintroducing the DREAM Act, creating more comprehensive immigration reform, providing better access to information for both undocumented immigrants and the rest of the community, and pushing funding legislation.
CUNY Citizenship NOW director and Baruch professor Allan Wernick echoed these sentiments, and added additional insight on the movement for comprehensive immigration reform in his closing remarks. He stated while support of legislation such as the DREAM Act seems to be drawn by party lines, undocumented immigration is not a “conservative or liberal issue, a red issue or blue issue.” He stated that an essential part of this lies in the power of young advocates.
“The most important thing about young people is that they have audacity. They are more fearless. They don’t have the ties. They have less to lose,” said Wernick. “You all have fewer ties to the establishment so you are in a better position to challenge it.”
Both ASU and Macaulay students hoped the conference would motivate others to get involved.
“When people leave today, we want them to feel empowered to make a difference, to inspire them to do things that will cause change,” said Jordan Branch (ASU/Barrett ’13). “Call you representatives and reach out, so they know this is important to you. Volunteer. Become a voice. Because the louder we are, the more success we may have moving forward.”
To follow S.I.E.R, visit their Facebook page. To learn more about CUNY Citizenship Now, visit its Facebook page here.
