On Feb. 6, two immigration professors, Beth Zilberman and Sarah Purce, spoke at a “Know Your Rights” information session for those in the Salem community impacted by anti-immigration policies under the second Trump administration.
While Willamette staff and faculty are supporting students through immigration processes, there are also steps students can take to be an ally to impacted students and members of the broader Salem area affected by the current presidential administration. The “Know Your Rights” session addressed a part of the larger issue of clarifying the university’s ability to support students during the second Trump administration, along with his current immigration policies.
The speakers emphasized that the session was not legal advice before presenting information about current policies, what to do when speaking to the U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), and ways to prepare in case of detainment. This comes as Donald Trump promises a crackdown” on immigration, a sealing of the border, and an investigation of law officials that do not comply with an immigration crackdown agenda. The speakers also provided context to Oregon’s role as a state during the administration due to its status as a sanctuary state. By law, being a sanctuary state means that state and local officials cannot enforce federal immigration laws without an order signed by a judge.
Emilio Solano, the organizer of the event and the assistant provost for institutional equity and community engagement, assured that Willamette “takes an individual approach” to the support of its undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) students. Solano is a liaison to students without documentation and DACA recipients. Solano works in close collaboration with those directly connected to community members who are affected and with students to provide support and resources. He also organizes events such as the “Know Your Rights” information session. In his role, Solano noted that “the question we’ve always asked ourselves is, ‘How do we support students that are directly impacted by this?’”
The university website provides additional information about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), know your rights information, and counseling services that can be accessed. The website is intended for Willamette students and impacted university community members.
Under FERPA, which applies to all universities that receive federal funding, Willamette cannot share academic records and information with anyone not affiliated with the university unless they have a judicial warrant. A judicial warrant is a warrant that is signed by either a judge or a magistrate. These student records include class schedules, grades, housing and more. It is federal law to keep these academic documents for students private.“It’s about truly protecting all students,” Solano said.
Along with faculty support, there is student community support available on campus. The Pro-Immigrant Rights Student Union (PIRSU) is a club on campus that focuses on two missions: productive education for allyship and working to create an inclusive society. Samantha Nesta-Arteaga (’25), club president, emphasized the importance of student involvement in organization on campus. “It is important now [more] than ever to be a proactive ally,” Nesta-Arteaga stated. Along with student support on campus, Nesta-Arteaga noted that PIRSU is also focusing on “getting immediate information out to the Salem community.”
Immigration policies are constantly changing — and potentially confusing. Solano and Nesta-Arteaga emphasized how critical the spread of trusted information is throughout the length of the Trump administration. “There’s so much news, and it’s so overwhelming,” Solano said, which he explained was another motivator to hold an event like “Know Your Rights.” While the information shared at the session is not technically legal advice, it can be critical for those impacted by these immigration policy changes.
While faculty and staff members, such as Solano, are keeping an eye on immigration policies, students on campus now have an opportunity to “highlight how people can be allies,” according to Nesta-Arteaga, by joining organizations such as PIRSU and supporting impacted students. While policies can be confusing, sharing accurate information can help keep community members safe.