English course syllabus demands ‘Clean Dream Act Now’
A University of New Mexico professor included a section on her English Composition II syllabus labeled "Clean Dream Act Now."
In it, Professor Brenna Gomez pledges that she "will not disclose the immigration status of any student...unless required by a warrant," and will offer "immigration-related accommodations" to all students who need them.
A University of New Mexico English professor included a pledge on her syllabi to protect and “accommodate” illegal immigrant students who take her courses.
“As an educator, I fully support the rights of undocumented students to an education and to live free from the fear of deportation,” Professor Brenna Gomez wrote on her English Composition II syllabus, in a section labeled “Clean Dream Act Now.”
“I pledge that I will not disclose the immigration status of any student who shares this information with me unless required by a warrant, and I will work with students who require immigration-related accommodations,” the statement continued.
Campus Reform reached out to Gomez on the matter, but instead received a reply from the Media Relations Department, which doubled down on Gomez’s statement.
“[We] would like to reaffirm the University of New Mexico’s strongest support and continued solidarity for our undocumented students and their families, while the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections are under review and may possibly be terminated,” the school commented.
The university also noted that it has even “instituted an Undocu-Task Force to determine long-term support and resources,” and is also in contact with its “congressional delegation regarding legislative responses.”
“At UNM, we value each and every one of our students because each of us defines all of us,” the statement concluded. “We have a history of serving undocumented students, and rest assured, we will continue to find ways to make higher education more accessible and inclusive.”
[RELATED: College Republicans’ DACA event vandalized at UW]
Some, however, were not as enthusiastic with Gomez’s statement, including Gregory Jim, a student currently enrolled in her course.
“Universities teach how students should hold Academic Honesty, Academic Excellence, and Academic Integrity to the Highest degree,” he told Campus Reform. “Shouldn't federal law be considered honesty and integrity? As a Native American who is Navajo and fully supports Trump, it is confusing to me why we have to bring these types of political arguments into the classroom.”
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