To: The Wellesley Community
From: Sheilah Shaw Horton, Vice President and Dean of Students
Re: Announcing Updates for the Immigration Working Group
Date: February 19, 2019
I am writing to share with you news and updates on the Working Group on the Effects of Immigration Policy on the Wellesley Community and to invite you to an upcoming discussion by a panel of experts in immigration history, law, and advocacy on the impact and implications of the most recent changes in immigration policy. The event, The Changing Landscape of Immigration: Beyond the Headlines, will be held Wednesday, February 27 from 12:30 to 1:45 pm in the Alumnae Hall Ballroom; lunch will be provided. Please RSVP. I hope you can attend.
Composed of faculty, students, and staff, the immigration working group was formed in February 2017. It is charged with helping the College understand and support the needs of undocumented members of the community, or any other community members who may be feeling vulnerable as a result of the current political climate and the ongoing changes to regulations related to immigrationand refugees’ status.
I am pleased to announce that Ines Maturana Sendoya, associate dean of students for inclusion and engagement, was appointed as the chair of the immigration working group in the fall semester. Building on the legacy of the inaugural group led by Soo Hong, the group sponsored a webinar for Student Life staff about working with undocumented students; monitored changes in immigrationpolicy and documented them on the immigration working group website; and supported the College’s decision to sign on to an amicus brief supporting legal challenges to the new unlawful-presence policy that could potentially affect international students and scholars.
In early February, the immigration working group cosponsored a legal clinic for faculty and staff with Human Resources, and in March, the group will invite members of the community to a dinner during which they can meet and talk with its members. The group also secured a one-year license to the webinar “Serving Undocumented Students,” which provides an introduction to DACA and how to best serve the needs of undocumented students on campus. The Wellesley community is invited to register and view the webinar.
I encourage you to check the immigration working group website for information about other upcoming events, as well as immigration resources and the latest on issues on immigration policy.
