LaGuardia Community College opened the Office of Immigrant Student Empowerment this week, the first office of its kind at a community college in the City University of New York system. The office began serving students in the spring.
Since opening, the office has connected immigrant and immigration-impacted students with legal resources, financial assistance, academic support and community-based services. It partners with CUNY Citizenship Now!, the college's student advocacy committee and other community organizations. The office also links students to scholarships, experiential learning stipends and emergency assistance through the Friedman Fund for new New Yorkers and LaGuardia CARES. The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation provided support for the office.
More than 70 students have already sought help from the office. Alex Perez-Meza, administrative coordinator, said legal assistance is one of the center's most sought-after services because a student's legal circumstances can affect their ability to remain enrolled and qualify for in-state tuition.
Alexis McLean, vice president for student affairs at LaGuardia, said college leaders noticed growing reluctance among some immigrant and undocumented students to attend classes in person. Some have requested online courses or prefer email communication only. McLean said the college's location in Queens, home to a large immigrant population, made supporting these students a priority.
The Trump administration has challenged state policies allowing undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition. More than 120,000 undocumented college students have lost access to in-state tuition rates following federal lawsuits in five states, according to Inside Higher Ed. In February, federal agents detained a student at Columbia University after entering a campus residential building, raising questions about enforcement on campuses.
LaGuardia also houses the Institute for LGBTQIA+ Community Engagement and Public History, announced by CUNY in June. The institute serves as a systemwide hub to support LGBTQ+ students and build partnerships with community organizations.