Being a student at Cabrini University has provided me with tremendous opportunities to be a more engaged citizen in my community. As a student at Cabrini, it is incredible to be able to participate so actively in the school’s dedication to social justice.
Every year, Cabrini offers Engagement with the Common Good, or ECG, classes. that students are required to take for three semesters. However, there are many social justice topics to choose from so that students can express their passion and learn more about areas such as climate change, food insecurities and the American immigration system.
For my third and final ECG class at Cabrini, I was given the chance to take the class called Immigration, Law and Social Justice. From August to November we studied the American immigration system and prepared to lobby in support of immigration to our representatives in the United States federal government.
Early on Nov. 15, 2018, we drove to Washington D.C. in the snow that was mixed with rain and hail to lobby for these individuals trying to make better lives for themselves in the United States of America.
There were four groups that prepared and made the four hour drive to the country’s capital in the winter weather. We had a total of five meetings with the staffs of Pennsylvania’s Senators Toomey and Casey, New Jersey’s Senator Booker, and Congresspersons Kelly and Fitzpatrick, each of Pennsylvania.
My group and I met represented our fellow New Jersey constituents in Senator Booker’s office as we spoke with his counsel, Daniel Smith. We discussed various immigration policies such as passing DACA (the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) or the DREAM Act, the family separation policy, the decrease in the refugee cap and HB Visas.
Smith was responsive to what we had to say and responded with what Senator Booker was doing in the Senate to either end or pass those policies and acts.
Although Senator Booker does agree with passing the DREAM Act and our other points, he is one of 50 senators in a Republican-controlled Senate. A lot of the time it can be hard to get bills and acts passed.
We also happened to see Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey as he walked into the Senate Dirksen Building to vote after our meeting.
Overall, it was a fantastic experience that only inspired me more to work in American politics and I hope others in the future get to experience the same; but hopefully in better weather!
