CDI Expands Training to Support Undocumented Students

Educational training to support Loyola’s population of undocumented students is now being increasingly offered by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. 

Share the Dream Ally training, aimed at spreading a wider understanding of the social and political strains which affect undocumented students, will inform students on current immigration policy, how it applies to Loyola’s Jesuit mission and how to be a productive ally. 

Graduate student Kevin Nguyen, who studies social work and is an intern for undocumented student initiatives in the CDI, said these three foundational components will lead students and faculty toward garnering action-oriented support for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and undocumented students. 

The new training sessions will join Safe Space training, which emphasizes support for Loyola’s LGBTQ+ community, in providing thorough and personalized education to students by going in-depth on the personal experiences undocumented students face daily. 

Although the CDI offered their training three times last semester, the office now feels a need to offer them more frequently given changes in U.S. administration, according to Nguyen.

Although these CDI trainings have been required for all SGLC student board members, they will soon be necessary for all members.  

Third-year criminal justice and criminology and political science double major Yolenna Regmi served as the chief diversity officer of SGLC from spring through fall 2024. 

Before giving up her position to finish her studies at the John Felice Rome Center, Regmi proposed the training be mandatory for all SGLC members, including all executive board members. 

After having undergone the training during her first year, Regmi said she recognized the significance of their effect as well as how accessible they were. Given most SGLC members were already required to volunteer at events around campus, she felt it was a good opportunity to spread more information at such a crucial time. 

“They could definitely be taught to more students because the education is going to waste,” Regmi said. 

By being free and available to everyone, these trainings are the ideal way to support students through the wake of anxiety revolving around changes to DEI policies, Regmi said. 

“This is a scary time for any marginalized student,” Regmi said. 

Being a student and community member of a diverse city like Chicago means staying mindful and educated of the entire student body, including undocumented students and LGBTQ+ students, Regmi said. 

Regmi said the first step in staying educated is paying attention to like-minded people on campus and in the community. She said many students attend events hosted by student organizations to hear discussion they can understand and connect to. 

Regmi said beyond the training, it’s important for Loyola to continue to advocate for the minority groups on their campus no matter their relevance in the media. She said certain topics only tend to be addressed and cared for when the press pays attention. 

While Regmi said she believes educational institutions should be held accountable for behavior that merely reflects what the media covers, she said she also believes younger generations should keep themselves in check when it comes to performative trends on social media. 

There should be more emphasis on the concerning circumstances surrounding undocumented students and their education, such as having limited access to resources, Regmi said.

“Whether they are in the media or whether they’re in public light or not, students will continue to experience them,” Regmi said. 

Demonstrating consistent support for undocumented students is vital for all institutions, Regmi said. Although her studies at Loyola are coming to an end, she said she hopes to have made a change with her last proposal to have all SGLC become educated through CDI trainings and its meaning for future students.