Undocumented Student Services held an UndocuAlly training last Thursday designed to provide staff, faculty and academic advisors with the essential tools to support undocumented students. It was broken down into seven sessions with topics that ranged from campus resources to student-lived experiences.
The event began with the Undocumented Student Services team introducing Stan State President, Dr. Britt Rios-Ellis. She was unable to attend the event in-person as she was in San Marcos, CA attending a social mobility conference. Her opening remarks were done via Zoom.
“We have to keep our students’ minds on their dreams and this is a really difficult thing to do when folks are fearful,” she said. “We want our students to be worried about their exams, not ICE.”
According to Jesus Jimenez, an academic advisor for the Advising and Success Center, the last UndocuAlly training he attended had around 20 attendees.
“We are going through a time of turmoil with the new administration and the new policies that are going into play,” he said. “It’s making the environment somewhat dangerous.”
This year’s training had over 60 attendees and included a live panel discussion with four undocumented students sharing their barriers and overall experiences.
One of the speakers was Alejandro Garcia Del Rio (Senior, Business Marketing) and Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) Director for Stockton Campus.
Garcia Del Rio mentioned his passion for the undocumented community and his advocacy for students and allies.
“The more support we get, the more we feel welcomed. We want to put our part in this world,” he stated.
Dulce Herrera, co-advisor of the Multicultural Club, and Laura Paz-Huerta, advisor of M.E.Ch.A, who are also both teachers at Lodi High School, took the initiative to bring their students to the training to learn how to support the undocumented community.
Herrera revealed that two of her students approached her before the event with fears about their futures.
“I think the panel made a difference on how they see their future,” Herrera stated. “For the type of students that we’re trying to target, I think life experiences–living examples–is what they need.”
Paz-Huerta reflected on her first year teaching English Language Development (ELD) and the impact the new government has had on her students and their families.
“This year has hit really hard… but what I can do is bring them this knowledge and these resources,” she said. “Receiving information and sharing it with the community, that’s what brought me here.”
She mentioned wanting to be a safe space, where her students could come and receive resources without feeling afraid.
“I hope that if I bring these resources back to my kids, they will continue on with an education when they probably didn’t think they had the capability,” Paz-Huerta said.
One of the Lodi High School students who attended was Dariana Vazquez, an 11th grader.
“I didn’t know all the help and all the things they could do for us,” she said. “Other schools have legal services but you have to pay a fee and here they are free.”
Vazquez also shared that she was hoping to become the president of the Multicultural Club next year.
“I plan to use this knowledge to help others who might be in the same situation, and spread it in the clubs I’m in, show them these resources,” she said.
During the event, Immigrant Legal Defense provided a free Immigration Law Clinic where legal advice on immigration matters and other concerns could be addressed. Appointments can also be scheduled online. Services will be provided virtually and free of charge for Stan State students, employees and their families.
Other resources included Know Your Rights where Red Cards were distributed to each table. All individuals in the United States, regardless of immigration status, are protected under the U.S. Constitution. Stan State has distributed Red Cards across campus in specific locations. Red Cards may also be printed. English and Spanish versions are available.
All registered attendees received a certificate of completion after the event ended.
