Meet the dedicated team of student journalists behind AccessU: Born to Immigrants
Letter from the Editors
As the second Trump administration began with the semester, our team took seriously the decision to cover the community of people on the University of Minnesota campus who are born to immigrants. We recognized our reporting would require thorough and thoughtful interviews and conversations to accurately portray their experiences.
A challenge to birthright citizenship and loosening restrictions on ICE agents and increased deportations have brought new fear to a community already well-accustomed to it. Yet we also know that Trump’s policies had increased support in the 2024 election among some immigrant groups in Minnesota, including Hispanics and Somalis.
Our mission is to report what we find with a commitment to fair, equitable, empathetic and truthful coverage. We will call attention to both the struggles and the successes of those born to immigrants and minimize harm by listening deeply and with empathy. We intend to do our best to report and write stories that reflect the sentiment of this community through interviews, data, and the upkeep of current and relevant news in today’s society. While we will highlight the real struggles facing those on campus born to immigrants, we will not forget about the joy, unity and leadership of those in the community.
We hope this work will promote positive change that makes campus a more inclusive and welcoming place, where all students can celebrate their culture.
Amelia Roessler and Jack O’Connor, Co-editors
AccessU: Born to Immigrants