Erik Estrada
Social Media Editor
For many undocumented students, navigating life on a university campus may feel isolating and paved with challenges. Now, recent policy changes and growing anti-immigrant sentiment have made their struggles even more daunting.
Students at Texas A&M University-San Antonio may be unaware of the wide range of resources available on campus.
Organizations such as The Dreamer Student Organization and the Monarch Student Organization, along with any faculty and staff who identify as an UndocuAlly are working to make sure immigrant students feel safe.
Under the latest administration change, President Donald Trump increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. As a result, many immigrant communities are overwhelmed with stress and fear of deportation, detention and family separation.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to trust people during these times,” said Gissel Jayasi, president of the Monarch Organization and an immigrant student from Mexico. “I think knowing who our allies are is something we’re struggling with — me as the Monarch president — I even have trouble trying to figure out who is an ally and who isn’t and I think that’s very important during this time.”
An ally is someone who supports and advocates for a marginalized group, even if they do not personally belong to that group. In the context of immigration, an UndocuAlly is a faculty member, staff or student who stands in solidarity with immigrant communities, offering resources, protection and a safe space.
Dreamer Student Organization: empowering immigrant students with legal support and education
The officers of the Dreamer Student Organization have taken the initiative of educating Dreamers, immigrant students and their allies to make sure individuals are prepared if they have an encounter with ICE. This includes being aware of their rights, creating an emergency plan and how to access low-cost legal counsel.
The DSO provides support for students who have been in the United States under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Temporary Protected Status, as well as those who are undocumented.
“We use the word Dreamers because it’s an umbrella term,” said Maria Andrade, vice president of DSO and DACA recipient from El Salvador. “When you say Dreamer, you don’t know if they’re saying DACA students, undocumented students, do they have TPS, are they green card holders; immigration is a hard word, so we use Dreamers as a filler.”
To cultivate a welcoming community through education and resources for Dreamers, the DSO plans to host multiple “Know Your Rights” meetings and work with immigration lawyers to spread information.
“Know Your Rights” meetings are intended to spread knowledge and inform people about their rights when navigating the legal system. These events commonly occur when demographic groups in society feel threatened by law enforcement.
“We’re also trying to get lawyers and attorneys to come to campus. Students will be able to get information from someone who actually knows what is going on,” said Obed Valencia, president of the DSO and immigrant student from Mexico.
The DSO hosted its first “Know Your Rights” meeting for the semester Feb. 12 with the opportunity to speak with immigration attorney Gerardo Villegas.
The DSO also is trying to provide support by hosting UndocuAlly training.
“UndocuAllys are for faculty, staff and students who want to understand what an immigrant is and who Dreamers are,” Valencia said. “If you ever want to discuss your immigration status or need support, these people will have a monarch butterfly sticker.”
The DSO hopes to expand its reach by working with local organizations to provide additional legal and mental health resources, not just for Dreamers at A&M-San Antonio, but for people seeking resources across the city.
“We founded this organization to support our community and to also help the Dreamer Resource Center since it’s just one person,” Valencia said.
The adviser of the DSO is Kimberley Nañez, executive director of the Student Academic Success Center and theDream.US program manager where she is in charge of the Dreamers Resource Hub.
The DSO is co-hosting an event with the Active Minds Organization March 26, in Classroom Hall room 102 at 2:30 p.m. where students can craft keychains and explore available resources.
To find out more, students can join the organization on JagSync or follow on Instagram.
Monarch Student Organization: advocating for immigrant students’ needs beyond campus resources
Along with the DSO, the Monarch Student Organization is another group on campus providing support for students.
To advocate and provide even more support for immigrant students, Jayasi decided to create the Monarch Student Organization in November 2024.
“A lot of our immigrant community needs resources,” Jayasi said. “A lot of students who are in the org might not be immigrants but their parents are, so we help them get resources that don’t only have to do with the university.”
The Monarch Student Organization is considered a focus group until it meets all university requirements to be an official student organization.
In a post on Instagram, the Monarch Student Organization stated, “The monarch butterfly embodies transformation, resilience and the courage to overcome challenges — qualities that resonate deeply with immigrant students.”
Despite being a focus group Jayasi is still hosting general meetings, attending the Jaguar Involvement Fair and planning “Know Your Rights” meetings separate from the DSO.
“It’s very important that students know there are groups like this on campus that foster a supportive community,” she said. “They can share experiences, share resources and have people to talk to that they can trust.”
With new information on immigration laws being shared every day along with social movements and protests emphasizing support for the Mexican immigrant community. Jayasi believes this is not just an issue for Mexican immigrants, but one that affects everyone.
“There are immigrants from all over here, not just Mexico,” she said. “I feel like a lot of students who might not be Mexican, who are from all over, need resources and they can’t find it…a lot of resources found are ‘only for Mexico,’ and I think that is also something that should be talked about and something we can provide.”
As many have seen in person and on social media there has been an increase of ICE agents conducting investigations, apprehending and deporting immigrants.
This has left many in fear and uncertainty about their ability to pursue education.
“I would be afraid to go to campus because of everything that’s going on or to drive my vehicle. I don’t know if I would even be comfortable emailing my professors, like who can I trust to tell that I can’t be on campus?” said Jayasi.
In efforts to build support on campus, Jayasi is identifying UndocuAllys and distributing pins shaped like monarch butterflies to faculty and staff who have shown support for their cause.
To stay up to date with the Monarch Student Organization, follow its Instagram.
‘Know Your Rights’ Meetings: a gathering for immigrant protection and support at A&M-San Antonio
On Feb. 4 an email was sent out through a few different email chains notifying faculty, staff and students about a “Know Your Rights,” discussion Feb. 6 in Classroom Hall.
The host, who asked not to be identified, has requested that The Mesquite not disclose sensitive information that may jeopardize the safety or employment of attendees.
One ally willing to be quoted is Dr. James Finley, associate English professor at the university.
“I see a lot of misunderstanding and ignorance among fellow faculty about what’s expected and what faculty can do,” Finley said. “Part of what I wanna do today is get a sense from the community about what faculty can do to protect this community.”
Finley was one of the faculty members hosting the event and aimed to provide valuable information about immigrants’ rights and how to navigate encounters with law enforcement, specifically ICE.
Although not an official university-sponsored event, it drew a diverse group of about 20 A&M-San Antonio community members.
Before the discussion began, the tone of the event was set with the distribution of flyers and “Know Your Rights” pocket cards, accompanied by videos providing important information on how to prepare for an encounter with ICE:
For students seeking trusted faculty or staff members, attendees at the meeting received Monarch pins and information on signage that could be worn or displayed to indicate UndocuAlly status.
To seek free, professional and confidential mental health services students can reach out to the Student Counseling Center.
As immigration policies continue to change, the Dreamer Student Organization, the Monarch Student Organization and UndocuAllys remain committed to the safety, support, and guidance of Dreamers and Immigrant students on campus.
“Being undocumented isn’t something to be ashamed of; it’s something that we couldn’t really control, but it’s something we have to learn how to live with. We want to help students understand that and feel proud of who they are,” Valencia said.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article contained a duplicated quote. This has been corrected for clarity and accuracy 9:00 p.m., March 24.
Editor’s note: A link to the spanish version of this story was added at the top of the article 1:25 p.m., March 25.
