Message of Support for Undocumented Immigrant and International Students and Employees

December 10, 2024

Dear Students, Faculty, Staff and Administrators:

As we begin the final week of the semester, we want to express our very best wishes on a successful conclusion to the academic labors of Fall 2024. Before final exams, projects, and presentations wrap up for the semester and our community begins its holiday observances, we wanted to take an opportunity to address an issue that has come up in numerous conversations over the past several weeks.

The recent national election is clearly a harbinger of change, but it is not yet clear exactly what all the changes in policy will be or how those changes will impact us. One area of focus has been in the area of immigration and visa policies; we know that many are concerned about how both undocumented and international students, employees, family members, and friends may be impacted.

Gonzaga University, in keeping with its mission-centered values – which includes our belief in human worth and dignity, and the obligation to care about and advocate for those who are disadvantaged, suffering, often unseen and frequently forgotten or marginalized – has consistently advocated for the protection of undocumented students on our campus (see: Undocumented Student Support). Beginning in 2016, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities issued a statement calling for us to “labor for solidarity among all people, and especially with and for the poor and marginalized of our society” … and “to embrace the entire human family, regardless of their immigration status or religious allegiance.” AJCU institutions, including Gonzaga, pledged to:

• Protect to the fullest extent of the law undocumented students on our campuses;
• Promote retention of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA);
• Support and stand with our students, faculty, and staff regardless of their faith traditions; and
• Preserve the religious freedoms on which our nation was founded.

On November 14, 2024, the Office of Public Affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement of pastoral care calling upon us to recognize “the inherent dignity of each person as a child of God,” and reaffirming that the U.S. Catholic Bishops continue to stand in “firm solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters who live and labor in these United States.” They also expressed that the United States “should have an immigration system that protects vulnerable migrants and their families.”

Current Status

• Gonzaga’s position and commitments regarding the support of undocumented students and employees remains unchanged.
• Conversations on campus regarding these matters have begun, and Robin Kelly, Gonzaga’s Chief Diversity Officer, is reconvening the Undocumented Community Support Coalition (UCSC).
• We are aware that the Undocumented Student Support website needs some updating, and this will likely be a priority for the coalition.
• We are also aware the GSBA is working on a resolution -- Undocumented Student and International Students Renewed Commitment for Continued Support from Gonzaga University – as an action to demonstrate GSBA’s continued commitment to supporting undocumented students and international students, and to help raise awareness and support on campus.
• Additionally, the Unity Alliance of Cultural Clubs (UACC) has raised concerns at their last two meetings about the changing political landscape around undocumented immigrants. In late November, the students discussed the recent Supreme Court ruling in Department of State v. Munoz that rejects alien spouses’ right to citizenship and how this decision may lead to other immigration rights. UACC students are discussing collective action steps they can take to better understand the issue. To that end, UACC is documenting student concerns and planning a Town Hall after the holiday break. The students are hoping the town hall will provide a helpful platform for the Undocumented Community Support Coalition (UCSC) to consider when recommending future actions. The event may include institutional updates/reminders and resource sharing, a moderated Q&A, and roundtable discussion. Possible dates are January 22, 23, 27, or 28 between 5-7 p.m. More info to follow.

Law Enforcement

Primary jurisdiction over enforcement of federal immigration laws rest with the federal government and not with Campus Security and Public Safety (CSPS) or any state or local enforcement agency. The University is committed to providing security services that strive to ensure a safe and secure environment in which ALL members of Gonzaga’s diverse community are protected and can fully embrace the University’s mission. Federal law protects student privacy rights, and Washington State provides other broad privacy protections to students, faculty, staff, and other employees of the University. Gonzaga University complies with all local, state, and federal laws and in doing so, the University will not provide private information about students to local, state, or federal authorities should the sharing of such data violate a student’s privacy rights, including but not limited to FERPA.

Legal Aid and Advocacy

• One thing we can do now is inform ourselves and make sure students and colleagues know about legal aid and advocacy resources that are available.
• For those seeking immigration legal representation or other assistance, here are a few community resources to consider.

• “The Catholic Charities Immigration Clinic at Gonzaga Law School.”
• Manzanita House
• Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services 
• Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) 
• Northwest Justice Project (NJP)
• Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP)
• American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU) at (206) 624-2184
• Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network at 1 (844) 724-3737
• United We Dream
• Immigrants Rising
• UndocuProfessionals
• PHD: Pre-Health Dreamers

Financial Support

• Emergency funding for all Gonzaga students, documented or undocumented, may be available through a partnership between the Center for Cura Personalis (CCP) and Office of Student Financial Services. Contact CCP at (509) 313-2227 or ccp@gonzaga.edu for assistance with this process.
• In the state of Washington, undocumented students can file the WASFA – Washington Application for State Financial Aid. WAFSA is specifically for low-income, non-citizen students that attended a Washington high school who are unable to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid due to immigration status.
• Additionally, the Plus Scholar Fund: Washington Dream Coalition is a grassroots, youth-led program in the state of Washington that provide cash assistance for undocumented immigrants.
• Gonzaga also provides some institutional aid for undocumented students.

Campus Support

As a reminder, there are many resources on campus (examples below) that provide services and support for Gonzaga students, faculty, and staff.

 

Without question, we will need to develop a clearer understanding of the best options for continuing to support all students, faculty, and staff in accordance with our mission and values. It is our hope that we, as a university community, will authentically engage in campus dialogue about the difficult issues we face and will continue to confront as a university, nation, and global community.

We hope this information is helpful to you. Please keep us informed as to what you are seeing, hearing, and experiencing. Please also share any new resources with us that are not included in this message.

Lastly, we would like to take this opportunity invite you all to mark your calendars and consider participating in the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Teach-In on January 20, 2025, which is also Presidential Inauguration Day.

Best wishes to everyone on a successful conclusion to the Fall Semester 2024!

 

Kent Porterfield, Ed.D Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Thayne M. McCulloh President