As demonstrators called on the University of Colorado to hire a full-time immigration lawyer to support students, campus officials said they have not seen an increase in requests for legal advice about immigration matters since President Donald Trump issued his controversial travel order.
The campus offers legal advice on immigration questions to students through its Student Legal Services office, which has a contract with Boulder immigration lawyer Jon Sirkis.
If students demonstrate a greater need for legal advice related to immigration matters, CU’s Student Legal Services office would ask Sirkis to increase the number of hours he’s available.
But so far, that has not been the case, according to campus spokeswoman Deborah Mendez Wilson.
“This past week, the office provided consultation to three students seeking immigration advice, which is in line with the volume of service that has been provided over the past two years,” Mendez Wilson said. “If demand justifies it, Student Legal Services is prepared to re-negotiate Mr. Sirkis’ contract to expand his availability to students.”
Roughly 40 demonstrators gathered outside the CU student center on Thursday to show support for immigrant students and employees.
A small counter-demonstration also popped up not far from the rally at the Dalton Trumbo Fountain Court outside the University Memorial Center. A student wearing a shirt with the campaign logo for President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence held a sign that said, “They have to go back.”
Speaking into a bullhorn, CU graduate student Mike Skirpan said he felt the campus administration should be doing more to support students and employees affected by Trump’s recent executive order that indefinitely barred Syrian refugees from entering the United States and suspended the admission of all refugees for 120 days.
The president’s action, which was temporarily halted by a federal judge last Friday, also blocked citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the U.S. for at least the next 90 days.
On Thursday, a U.S. appeals court refused to reinstate Trump’s ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations.
“We’re gathering because we want the administration to be held accountable,” Skirpan said.
He called on the campus to hire a full-time immigration lawyer and declare itself a sanctuary campus, meaning that CU would pledge not to put “university resources or time into deporting students, turning in students, offering information about students.”
Skirpan said he was aware that CU contracted with Sirkis to provide legal advice on immigration to students, but said he heard Sirkis was “overwhelmed” with questions.
“This attorney comes once a week for a few hours,” Skirpan said. “We just think that it’s insufficient given that two weeks ago all of these students, as well as many other students from related nations in the Middle East, they’re all concerned about what their future status is going to be; they have a lot of questions.”
CU’s Student Legal Services office began contracting with Sirkis in 2013. Mendez Wilson, the campus spokeswoman, said demand for Sirkis’ legal advice has not been high since then. Because of that, he works with CU students for up to eight hours each month during the fall and spring semesters.
Students pay a fee of $30 per hour to meet with Sirkis. The Student Legal Services office, which is funded by student fees, chips in another $30 per hour for Sirkis’ time.
According to the office’s website, students are limited to one, 50-minute immigration appointment during their career at CU. Follow-ups are also not available. Of course, students are able to seek out legal advice elsewhere in the community.
Mendez Wilson added that CU is working to create an inclusive environment for everyone, adding that the administration wants everyone to feel like they belong.
“A multidisciplinary immigration working group has begun to collaborate on possible solutions to improve awareness of available resources on campus,” she said. “The immigration working group will work to identify what support our community needs, especially when it comes to international students, scientists and (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) students who feel they might be affected by any new immigration policies. We want to have a better understanding of what existing and new legal and other support resources we can make available to the CU community.”
Students at Thursday’s demonstration said they’re tired of the university talking about issues but not taking action on them. One person held a sign that said, “Being inclusive requires action now. Not another task force!!”
Shideh Dashti, a CU assistant professor of geotechnical engineering and geomechanics, shared her story of immigrating to the United States from Iran when she was 17.
“When I became an American citizen by choice, I swore to protect this country with my life and I believe that today with all my heart,” she said. “The United States is my country and I feel loyalty that I have never felt toward any other place. I have some of my best Ph.D. (students) and (post-doctoral researchers) from the seven banned countries who feel exactly the same way. I am heartbroken.”
Sarah Kuta: 303-473-1106, kutas@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/sarahkuta
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