There has been a lot of controversy and worry regarding the Trump Administration’s changes to the DACA policy, as well as the issue of family separation during the immigration process. Treats and Trending is a monthly educational discussion group where they pick a trending topic, research it, and host an open discussion. This month’s topic was the immigration policy of the Trump Administration and how it has changed over the summer.

Treats and Trending functions under six main community guidelines: what is shared here stays here, what is learned here leaves here, speak openly, honestly and respectfully, pay attention to body language, be mindful of intent vs. impact, be brave and vulnerable, and that silence is okay. These instructions ensure a casual yet comfortable space to discuss certain controversial topics.

DACA, which was put into effect in 2012, stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Younger undocumented immigrants who had come to the United States as children under DACA are able to get a work permit for two years which will protect them from deportation.

California and New York judges ordered to resume DACA renewals however, but in May of this year seven states sued the federal government for allowing DACA to continue. For DACA to end, it would mean that many students who have it will have difficulty finding a job after college.

One student, Yatziry Galvan, a fourth-year business major, says, “For me, I’ve been working my whole life to get here and be able to graduate and to make all of my parents dreams come true. For them to possibly be removing DACA my last year is really upsetting because I might not be able to find a job. It’s frustrating knowing that I worked so hard and now I might not be able to reap the rewards.”

After discussing this in the HUB, the floor is opened to a free discussion, where group members discussed certain things that concern them with the current immigration policies in place. The difficulties of immigrating into this country, the trauma of family separation, and how hard it will be to overcome a safe campus for those students who currently have DACA all came into play. Shelly Gomez, a fourth-year women and gender studies major, intern and student assistant at the HUB, says, “My concern specifically is to create a campus that is all-inclusive for all communities and supports all students. The HUB, the cultural center, is a great space to welcome that.”

Group members also talked about what topics they wanted to learn more about. Keeping up with DACA and immigration policy in California, how to properly help students, how to make the campus environment feel safer, and how to make the HUB specifically a space to build community at all times were some of the ideas that were tossed around.

One way specifically that students of Sonoma State University can find solace should these difficult times affect them is the Dream Center on campus, which aims to aid students of undocumented or mixed families. DREAM stands for: Dreamers, Resources, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Mentoring. Students can also find information such as navigating colleges and financial aid here. “Coffee Talks” in the Dream Center is an event which offers students a way to talk about how they are dealing with current immigration policies and how it influences their lives.

Rosa Salamanca, the Dream Center Coordinator, says, “The main goal is to provide a safe space for undocumented students, students with mixed families, and the campus community overall. We provide resources, information and programming. Coffee Talks will be spaces to address the mental health and well-being of our students.”

Treats and Trending occurs monthly at the HUB.