By: Jennifer Flores
Over the Thanksgiving break, a student was detained by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at O’Hare airport as they were preparing to travel home for the holidays.
On Nov. 25, President Glena Temple issued an email to the Dominican community notifying students of the incident.
Jacky Neri Arias, assistant vice president of Hispanic-Serving and Culturally Sustaining Initiatives shared that the student was detained at the airport on his way home for the holiday break. This affirms President Temples’ statement that ICE was not present on campus grounds when the incident occurred.
President Temple shared that they have been in contact with the family and different organizations but cannot share additional details about the student due The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
“We are working closely with our partners, including TheDream.US and The Resurrection Project, among others, to connect the family with legal assistance and to do everything within our scope to support them,” she said. “We lift them up in prayer and remain committed to accompanying them.”
Neri Arias adds that they have also connected with Illinois Legislators. With the assistance of all partners combined, the family has secured legal aid. As of now, they are waiting for updates from the family and their attorney.
Neri Arias suggests for students to carry Know Your Rights cards, government issued Real IDs, and update emergency contact information with Dominican in order to reach the correct person if any issues occur.
She says, “If an immigrant student is detained, they should not sign anything or answer questions regarding their status until they are able to speak to an attorney.”
Neri Arias encourages students to reach out to her or Yessenia Hernandez, associate director of Undocumented Student Support at the Center for Cultural Liberation. She shared that Dominican was able to mobilize quickly in the case of the student detained because the students’ friends reached out for support immediately.
Given the circumstances, she also recommends that students stay cautious when traveling.
“Everyone should make the best decision for themselves and their family when it comes to traveling. Unfortunately, the current climate makes it more unsafe than normal to travel as an immigrant, particularly for undocumented immigrants,” she said. “If students decide to stay on campus over the winter break for safety reasons, the University is making plans to support students with housing and food.”
President Temple acknowledged that this situation creates fear and uncertainty for many students. She says that support will remain available throughout the break. Students have access to the Stars Assistance Form, Residence Life for support, and Campus Safety can be contacted at 708-524-5999.
UPDATE:
On December 4th, President Glena Temple issued another email informing the Dominican community that the student was deported.
“This outcome is devastating, and we know it brings profound grief. Dominican remains committed to supporting the family to the extent possible as they navigate the difficult days ahead,” she wrote.
The student’s identity remains unknown, as she states that they cannot share additional details about the student’s story.
However, she expressed the devotion Dominican continues to hold for the safety and well-being of students.
In the email, she also announced that the Chicago Campus will host a press conference on December 5th at 10 a.m., where she will be in attendance.
During the conference, The Dream Act of 2025 will be introduced by Senator Dick Durbin.
“This legislation represents a path toward stability and a roadmap to citizenship for Dreamers,” President Temple wrote.
She shared that individuals are welcome to join a livestream through The Resurrection Projects’ Facebook page.
“Thank you for the compassion and solidarity you continue to extend to one another. May we move forward grounded in our mission and strengthened by our shared values” she states.
You want to live in this country? Fine. Come here through the legal routes. You wouldn’t get special treatment from Dominican if you snuck in through a window when the school was closed, would you? They’d call the cops, you’d get escorted off the premises, and detained in jail, and rightfully so. Why should the United States be any different?
You’re assuming a lot that you don’t know, especially considering that not only legal residents but US citizens have been swept up and detained in the current ICE upsurge.
So does that mean we stop enforcing our laws? That we allow criminals to stay here? Prove you have the right to be here or get out. It’s literally that simple.