University of New Mexico creates Immigration Working Group

The University of New Mexico has created a new Immigration Working Group (IWG) to support students, faculty, and staff and strengthen the University's role as a resource for communities across New Mexico.

The IWG, which will be overseen by Vice President and Sociology Professor Assata Zerai in the Division for Change and Empowerment (DiCE), brings together leaders from across campus, including the Health Sciences Center, branch campuses, legal experts, student services and academic units, to coordinate guidance, resources and communication related to immigration matters. The Working Group's co-chair is Linda Melville, manager of International Education in the Global Education Office.

The initiative comes in response to ongoing changes in federal immigration procedures and the need for institutions like UNM, a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), to provide clear, consistent, and accessible support. MSI's provide critical access to higher education and workforce training for low-income and first-generation students. As a statewide leader in education and research, the University plays a critical role in supporting individuals and families as they navigate complex and often rapidly changing policies.

"The Immigration Working Group is a logical next step from the Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) of 2025," said Zerai. "The Immigration RRT completed excellent work including delivering Know Your Rights Sessions and setting up the UNM immigration website". The IWG will continue make recommendations to ensure, as noted by President Stokes, that :we are prepared to provide accurate information, meaningful support, and a coordinated response when it is needed most."

UNM President Garnett S. Stokes has requested the Immigration Working Group (IWG) to develop recommendations focused on:

• Establishing a coordinated, university-wide structure to address changes in federal immigration procedures and policies
• Ensuring clear communication of processes and procedures across the institution
• Expanding accessible resources, including academic support for students, guidance for faculty related to promotion and tenure, and mental health support for students, faculty, and staff

Additional recommendations may include: the development of public-facing resources outlining rights, responsibilities, and emergency contacts; implementation of annual training for campus stakeholders; creation of dedicated digital resources to centralize information and support; and strengthening consistent communication with UNM's branch campuses to ensure alignment statewide.

UNM developed a website in 2025 where information related to immigration concerns can be found to help provide guidance and respond to questions related to federal executive actions.

"The Immigration Working Group is on a short timeline this semester, and we thus decided to break into four subcommittees (visa and work issues; mental health and wellbeing; campus relations with law enforcement; and communications and education)," said Zerai. "I am so pleased that the subcommittees have met and are prepared to deliver recommendations for long-term solutions to address immigration concerns at UNM."

The Immigration Task Force will focus on providing timely updates, expanding access to campus and community resources, supporting student success, and advising University leadership on policy and response strategies.

UNM officials emphasized that the effort aligns with UNM 2040 and the University's broader mission to ensure access to education and foster a supportive, inclusive environment for all members of its community.

For more information, visit the Division for Change and Empowerment.