Story Content
‘We’re not hiding’: How Sac State is supporting undocumented students
December 17, 2024
Shortly after the 2024 general election, Sacramento State President Luke Wood met with some of the University’s undocumented students and posed a question.
"He said, ‘We can go two ways. We can go into hiding if that makes you all feel better, or we can be out and we can be proud and we can say that Sac State stands with you,’ ” said Kim Gomez, coordinator of the University’s Dreamer Resource Center. “Everyone unanimously said, 'We don't want to hide. We're done hiding. We want Sac State to show us that they support (us).’
“It’s good for incoming students to see that we’re not hiding. We have so many resources available.”
Following the re-election of Donald Trump, whose campaign rhetoric called for mass deportation and hardline immigration policies, Sac State’s 500-600 undocumented students, as well as those from mixed-status families, face new uncertainties and challenges on their path to graduation.
In this episode of “Beyond J,” Gomez discusses the mood of undocumented students following the election, and the support and resources available to them and their families through the Dreamer Resource Center. Also joining is Basia Ellis, an associate professor in the College of Education, who shares insights from her research into the psychology and experiences of undocumented immigrants, especially in the face of hardline policies.
