With President Donald J. Trump’s second presidential term under way, the Immigrant Student Success Center (IMSSC) faces challenges on how to continue supporting their students amid the anxiety and potential changes to immigration policies. 

“The center was an emergency response to Trump’s election,” said Denise Vivar, the manager of the IMSSC.

Vivar reflected on the origin of the center during 2017; immigrant students at John Jay during that time were highly affected by the political climate and the fear of ICE raids that were happening in New York City. 

John Jay’s immigrant students remain uncertain and in fear. 

Navindra Singh, a first year humanities and justice student, spoke on the emotional effect. 

“Thinking about what the future holds is a whole different perspective of how I’m feeling right now,” said Singh.

Denise Vivar, manager of the IMSSC, added, “I don’t think undocumented students should hide or be triggered at a moment where they are supposed to be learning.” 

There are fears about ICE’s presence on John Jay’s campus and the fragility of New York City’s sanctuary status. 

“They have cybersecurity and facial recognition software that could be used to target us,”

said Singh. 

In response to these concerns, the IMSSC is increasing its efforts to provide support to students. The IMSSC staff plan to make their Know Your Rights workshops campus wide. Vivar aims to help their students understand their legal options. 

As both a former student who utilized the support at the center and now a staff member, Beepath has witnessed first hand the uncertainty immigrant students face during Know Your Rights workshops held by the center. 

 “There is a lot of fear in the air, especially now with New York City’s sanctuary state being questioned. I could feel the heaviness in the air,” said Beepath.

Vivar is also collaborating with the college administration to establish clear protocols addressing ICE’s potential future presence on campus.

“I still want to acknowledge this doesn’t solve the issue,” said Vivar. 

Students will be able to access tailored mental health resources from John Jay’s Wellness Center. 

The IMSSC staff will refer students to counselors who specialize in working with immigrant populations.

“We envision weekly support groups that will be open directly to students who are impacted,” Vivar shared. 

The IMSSC staff also has partnerships with financial aid and the academic advisement center. With these partnerships, the center aims to minimize the need for students to disclose their status in order to receive resources.

Community building and advocacy is a major part of the IMSSC’s mission. This sense of community was the reason for the revival of the JJAY Dreamers Club. 

Singh elaborated how the revival of the JJAY Dreamers Club was an effort aimed at standing as an advocacy group.

“This club aims to become a group where students are able to voice their status safely. The center is not there to help us with advocacy, that depends on the student population,” said Singh.

Beepath explained that empathy and understanding are an important role in supporting students. 

“Simple things like addressing students by name go a long way. I was there once and I know how much it matters to have someone who listens,” said Beepath. 

Beyond strengthening campus support, Vivar envisions collaborations with external advocacy organizations to help bring more resources to the center. 

“Instead of going into hiding or fear, I want to make sure the population is still visible,” she said. “We want allies to have the tools they need to stand with our students. Every partnership we foster, both on and off campus, is about ensuring that no student feels isolated or unsupported,” said Vivar.

As immigrant students at John Jay navigate the uncertainty of the United States’s political future, the representatives of the IMSSC remain dedicated to providing practical resources, emotional support, and a strong community focus.

“Hope is always needed. It comes in different forms, but knowing this center is here gives us a reason to keep moving forward,” said Singh. 

To find out more information on the IMSSC and its resources, students may visit their website.