The “Keep ICE off Campus” event is one of many ways the group supports Latin American students.
Byline: By Trent Curry
In a time of uncertainty following President Donald Trump’s executive orders challenging birthright citizenship, University of Minnesota club Mi Gente is stepping up to provide a voice for Latino students on campus.
The Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) co-sponsored an event with Mi Gente on Feb. 13 featuring professor Jimmy Patiño and Minneapolis City Council members Robin Wonsly and Paula Ramaley. The speakers answered questions from the group and explained a brief history of immigration in America.
The event was just one of many ways Mi Gente offers support to Latino students at the university.
According to Mi Gente’s page on the university’s website, the group’s mission is to provide a safe and supportive space for all students to gain a better understanding of the social, historical and cultural awareness of different and shared experiences of people of Latin descent.
Martin Santiago Ojeda, whose parents are from Mexico, said his first semester was an isolating routine of going to class and then heading home quickly after.
Everything changed when a high school friend introduced him to Mi Gente. Now, Ojeda is in his fourth year and a vice president of the club.
“I got to meet a lot of really passionate people in the group that I still keep in touch with,” Ojeda said. “It’s such a great experience getting to see us grow as people and getting to share experiences that are really memorable.”
Sebas Osorio, the Mi Gente marketing director, said he got involved as soon as he could.
“I didn’t know pretty much anyone, but I decided to go to the Mi Gente room in Coffman and from there I was there almost every week, some days I’d be there until closing,” Osorio said. “I felt a strong connection because I wanted to get closer to my Latin American heritage, and it felt like the perfect opportunity to meet people who look similar to me and people who have had similar cultural experiences as me.”
The group was originally called La Raza and started as a political group on the university’s campus in 1969, according to Osorio. The group started out advocating for Mexican American rights on the university’s campus and is still an advocacy group at its core.
Osorio, whose father is from Colombia, said the group still embraces its roots and will continue to support Latino students through fun events to build community and provide education on current events affecting Latinos everywhere.
“We have an advocacy director, we host political events that are relevant to immigrants specifically, like the driver’s-license-for-all event last year, to help the community become aware,” Osorio said. “We’re helping shed light on things that are going on in the country right now, tools and resources to help people stay safe and protected, and to help them take care of their loved ones.”
At the Keep ICE Off Campus event, Wonsley said that city employees will not be working with ICE agents to support immigration proceedings, including law enforcement on and off campus.
Minneapolis has declared itself a sanctuary city where law and city officials will protect undocumented immigrants despite federal immigration law, according to Minneapolis’ city website.
“I have spent my last three and a half years focusing on beefing up the Immigration and Refugee Affairs Department,” Wonsley said. “We are a city that embraces and supports immigrants so we should have a fully resourced department that reflects that commitment.”
Wonsley explained to attendants of the eventher and Council Member Jason Chavez are working to pass a civil rights ordinance by April to revise the definition of a protected class to include immigration citizenship status to guarantee immigrant residents with protection against threats such as ICE.
Osorio said Mi Gente is about providing a space where people feel safe and supporting the people they care about in stressful times like these.
“It’s important to provide people with a sense of community so that they know other people who may be going through the same thing or just find a place to belong,” Osorio said. “We have events that are non-political or advocacy related, but are great for the community and finding your people.”