Diversity isn’t just a part of what makes Brooklyn College an exceptional institution, it’s what drives the campus forward. It runs through classrooms, labs, and every corner of campus life. With students from all walks of life choosing to study at Brooklyn College, the administration and staff carry a profound responsibility: to ensure every student feels seen, supported, and empowered—regardless of their immigration status.

In times of uncertainty, especially for immigrant and undocumented communities, the college stands as a steadfast ally. We are unwavering in our commitment to educating, supporting, and advocating for our immigrant students and their families.

Working Together for a Safe and Supportive Campus

On April 10, the college took an important step toward addressing the systemic challenges faced by immigrant students with the launch of its first-ever Immigrant Student Support Summit.

Spearheaded by President Anderson and Immigrant Student Success Office (ISSO) Director Jesús Pérez, the summit brought together a wide range of student-centered offices for an honest and solutions-driven conversation about transforming the immigrant student experience—from application to graduation.

President Anderson opened the two-hour meeting of the minds with a powerful call to action, urging faculty, staff, and administrators to reimagine the student journey and to identify ways Brooklyn College can deliver a more intentional, inclusive, and empowering educational experience.

Framing the discussion around how to fulfill the college’s promise of a high-quality education for every student, President Anderson guided the group through a thoughtful examination of the bureaucratic hurdles immigrant students often face — from their initial inquiry to graduation and career readiness.

The summit was well-attended and sparked candid, in-depth conversations about the complex transition immigrant students navigate.

Representatives from essential student-serving offices—including Admissions, Financial Aid, the Bursar’s Office, the Office of Scholarships, the Center for Academic Advisement and Student Success, the Registrar, and the Magner Career Center—shared valuable insights into both the structural barriers students encounter and the opportunities for institutional growth and innovation.

Several key themes emerged from the discussion:

  • Streamlining administrative processes to ease the burden on students and reduce confusion
  • Fostering interdepartmental collaboration to provide more holistic support
  • Expanding visibility and access to resources, especially for undocumented and first-generation students
  • Promoting early engagement with academic advising, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities

The summit closed with a strong, shared commitment to continue this critical work. Participants agreed this inaugural gathering would mark the beginning of an ongoing series of strategic conversations—all aimed at reshaping policies, improving coordination across offices, and ensuring that every Brooklyn College student, regardless of immigration status, can pursue their educational goals with dignity, clarity, and confidence.

Teaching and Learning Rights

To help understand the changing landscape, the college also held two “Know Your Rights Workshops” on February 23 and April 21. The most recent workshop continued the conversation on constitutional rights, focusing on what individuals need to know while in transit to Brooklyn College, in the surrounding area, and on campus.

Topics covered included what is considered a public space, what rights apply in different settings, and how to safely navigate interactions with law enforcement.

These sessions provide guidance on how individuals and their families can prepare for a potential law enforcement encounter. Open to students, staff, faculty and community members seeking to protect themselves and support others co-sponsored by ISSO, BC Faculty Council and Staff, PSC, We Stand Against Hate, and CUNY Law Immigrant and Non-Citizen Rights Clinic.

ISSO at Your Service and More

While these efforts are often adjusted and refocused, they have been ongoing. Since 2019, Brooklyn College has offered a wide range of dedicated resources to help students manage difficulty situations and thrive. The ISSO office supports, advocates for, and empowers students from a variety of immigration backgrounds through an intentional philosophy of holistic support, including free legal services, help accessing financial aid and counseling, as well as health and wellness offerings, and much more. The ISSO Office is located in 117 Roosevelt Hall and can be contacted at ISSO@brooklyn.cuny.edu or by phone at 718.951.5023.

To help students, as well as faculty and staff, understand their rights no matter of citizenship status, other online resources on both the Brooklyn College and CUNY websites are available, including: