Students and administration discuss immigration in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month
by Erika Gomez
The 2012 presidential race has been filled with the usual concerns: the economy, taxes, war and healthcare. But for voters like CCNY alum Nadine Huggins, immigration reform is the most pressing issue.“Right now it looks like immigrants don’t have a permanent solution, its always back and forth for them,” says Huggins, who works at the City College Immigration Center. “Under Obama there is the deferred action plan of course, but I’m praying that it sticks this time.”Huggins voices the concern that over 37 million immigrants have since President Obama's announcement of his deferred action plan back in June. Known as the Dream Act Lite, it protects immigrants against deportation and makes them eligible for work and an education. For his part, it looks like Mitt Romney would eliminate such programs under his presidency.With Hispanic Heritage Month in full swing, CCNY is now trying to provide answers and aid for students and immigrants all over campus. Early this month, the CCNY Latino Heritage Month Student Committee held its first immigration forum with guest speakers Enzo Soderini and William Boyle, both immigrants themselves.Soderini, an immigration reform activist, stressed the importance of immigrants finding their voice by presenting a united front to make reform happen and stick. “Immigrants are not seen as tools to prosper America but rather we are used as political tools for the candidates,” Soderini says. “We have to present an agenda of our needs and not be used.”Fellow guest speaker, Boyle, an immigration lawyer, strongly agreed. “It’s sad but I see constant cases of immigrants getting the short end of the stick because they don’t fight back but rather accept defeat,” says Boyle. “But we are here today to let you all know that we do exist and we can fight back!”Boyle and Soderini, along with student volunteers are currently helping those who are eligible fill out applications for the deferred action plan at mobile clinics around the city. For more information go to www.cuny.edu/dreamers or the CCNY immigration office room 1/206 in the NAC building.