University Advocates for Immigration Reform

By The Fordham Ram on September 23, 2013 • ( 0 )

By KELLY KULTYS
NEWS EDITOR

Fordham University has partnered with the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) to continue its ongoing efforts to support just immigration reform.

Recently, the AJCU has decided to place advocating for immigration reform at the heart of its agenda.

“Fordham is a member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities,” Thomas Dunne, vice president for administration, said. “As a member institution, we have embraced immigration reform and welcome partnering with them on this important issue. There can be no dispute that the issue must be addressed, and universities have their role to play.”

In June, the U.S. Senate passed its Immigration Reform Bill, also known as the DREAM Act, which outlined a path to citizenship for approximately 11 million undocumented citizens.

“Many of whom are students, who through no fault of their own, find themselves living in this country undocumented,” Dunne said.

The DREAM Act, an acronym for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, is a bill first proposed by Senators Dick Durbin and Orrin Hatch on Aug. 1, 2001.

The bill would allow immigrant students to apply for permanent residency. A student must meet certain requirements, including graduating from a U.S. high school, arriving in the U.S. as a minor and living in the U.S. continuously for at least five years prior to the bill’s enactment.

“DREAMers” who go to college or serve in the U.S. military can also become eligible for U.S. citizenship.

Additionally, the DREAM Act would eliminate a federal provision that penalizes states that provide in-state tuition without regard to immigration status.

The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 68 to 32. All Democrats in the Senate voted in favor of the bill along with 14 Republicans. Right now, the bill awaits a vote from Congress to pass.

“Our main goal is [to] have the Congress pass the Senate bill on immigration reform,” Dunne said.

This movement to support immigration reform began even before the bill passed the Senate.

As early as April 2010, Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, in partnership with Cornell University, signed a letter asking the New York congressional delegation to support the proposed DREAM Act in Congress.

In June 2011, Dunne presented on behalf of Fordham in front of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, describing the University’s support for the reform bill.

Most recently, in May, McShane and the president of the AJCU wrote to Congress asking for compassionate legislation in regard to immigration reform involving students.

Right now, Fordham is attempting to get its students to support this particular legislation for other students.

According to Fr. Phil Florio, S.J., associate vice president of mission and ministry, the University is beginning a time of lobbying its campus members to join their stance on immigration reform.

“We’re advocating young people to raise the issue,” he said.

The Office of Mission and Ministry and Campus Ministry has partnered with the Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice to create a postcard campaign on campus.

Students who want to get involved and feel strongly about the issue have the chance to write a postcard to Congress, explaining their stance and supporting fair and just legislation.

This initiative has also received backing from Fordham’s government relations department and McShane’s office.

Also this week, students who attend the 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. masses can expect to hear the topic discussed during Florio’s homilies.

Florio said his goal is to advocate for peace and justice in the process moving forward as well as to raise awareness among students about the importance of immigration reform.

Dunne recognized that the issue of immigration is hotly contested throughout the country and acknowledged that not everyone agrees with the University’s vocal stance.

“Backlash is a strong word,” Dunne said. “Having said that, we do not anticipate any antagonistic reaction to our support of immigration reform.”

Still, Dunne and the rest of the offices believe this is an important issue that the University must continue to back.

“We, at Fordham, honor our immigration past and recognize its future,” he said.

Canton Winer contributed reporting.