On November 12, the Student Government Association (SGA) collaborated with undocumented students to create petitions to make Wilbur Wright College a sanctuary school.
A sanctuary college campus ensures that school staff prohibit deportation raids, groups of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants, from entering the school and receiving private information on undocumented students. Undocumented students are protected by sanctuary policies made by the school board.
Sanctuary campuses followed the example of the term “sanctuary cities.” A sanctuary city protects undocumented immigrants by following the U.S Constitution and the federal statute.
Student Government Association (SGA) treasurer John Sobolak explained that Illinois has already done their part in creating safe spaces in communities and schools, but the City of Chicago has yet to make arduous decisions on immigration.
“If the Mayor of Illinois says we are a sanctuary city and if the majority of universities in the State of Illinois all claim that they are sanctuary campuses, so should the City of Chicago,” said Sobolak.
So far, Wilbur Wright students have collected 218 signatures, 1,000 to 2,000 signatures are needed to enact sanctuary policies. Students fear the pledge for Wilbur Wright College to be a sanctuary school will be repealed because of the minimum amount of student signatures on petitions and recent budget cuts.
Petitions and budget cuts are on the least of undocumented student`s worries. Two of the most frightening issues that undocumented students face right now is President Trump`s promise to eliminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants.
DACA provides undocumented young people a social security number and a work permit that lasts up to two years. If DACA is removed, undocumented students will no longer be able to work or study in the U.S.
Wright student and “Great Books Student Society” president Miguel Orozco believes a sanctuary campus is needed to remove all worries and fears from students. “We have a large population of undocumented students who are afraid of voicing their concerns because they believe the school will not back them up,” said Orozco. “It is important for the school to acknowledge that we have a vulnerable group of undocumented people that need help.”
In March, the Student Government Association (SGA) asked the Board of Education to respond on their request to make Wilbur Wright College a sanctuary college campus. A final decision will determine whether other possible solutions could help Wright`s undocumented students if the sanctuary act were to be cancelled.