What would you do if you were undocumented now? What would you do if you were a mother of two children, one of them one month old, and your husband is detained and sent to a detention center? You had been seeking asylum because of threats of violence in your home country and when you go to your immigration check-in and are told that your asylum petition has been denied and you have exactly one month to come back with tickets to return to the danger in your home country. Your husband is definitely being deported. Should you pay $10,000 to appeal? What should you do with your children who are US citizens?
These are the kind of decisions that thousands of immigrants must make every day as Homeland Security is going after many people who have lived and worked in the US for many years in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, but are undocumented or on Temporary Protected Status or seeking asylum or on a particular visa that is revoked.
Two Cabrini University graduates, who have spent much of their careers working with communities of immigrants, shared stories of the anxiety and fear and stress that these communities face every day.
Cabrini University alumni and friends meet each month to learn about and discuss social justice issues. The June meeting was led by Robin Larkins, Class of 1985, and Meghan Hurley, Class of 2007.
Robin has had a long career with various Cabrini ministries and is currently the co-founder and executive director of Spring Community Partners in Dobbs Ferry, NY - a suburban community just north of New York City. The organization particularly focuses on serving the growing local immigrant community and assisting parents in navigating the complex systems to help their families succeed and to advocate for their children.
Meghan works for CATA, the Farmworker Support Committee in South Jersey and southern Chester County. She is currently the Policy and Advocacy Organizer. She also served as a volunteer after college with the Holy Child Sisters in Peru.
Following the discussion, the 50 alumni participants wrote or called their U.S. Senators who are now debating the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This budget reconciliation bill will increase funding for immigration enforcement from the current $34 billion to a proposed $200 billion. Funding would come from many sources, but especially by cutting social services such as many funded by Medicaid and SNAP.
If you are interested in learning about future discussions, please let the Cabrini University CAVS Mission and Service Committee know by adding your name here: https://bit.ly/cavs-ambassadors.
Embracing the spirit of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, Ivonne Moreno-Rodriguez, Social Work Supervisor from Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC (CIS-NYC), joined the 22nd Annual Migrant Trail Walk that ended on June 1st. Ivonne and 43 humanitarian workers completed the 75-mile, seven-day pilgrimage from Sasabe, Mexico to Tucson Arizona to honor the over 8,000 migrants who have died at the border since the 1990s, to denounce decades of inhumane border polices, and this year with the current administration, to oppose the weaponization of the immigration laws.
‘The journey towards freedom represents the challenging path that many refugees take, escaping oppression and uncertainty for safety in a new place’, says the ARC.
Attendees were delighted to dine amidst beautiful spring flowers and décor. Colorful succulent plants were given to all that attended.
Since 1979, ALP has served over 11,000 adult learners from 62 different countries. In 2024, ALP delivered 16 weekly classes to 477 students representing 26 countries. Of those 477, about 1/3 (168 students) took two, three, or even four classes. There were 13 students who earned American citizenship and two who earned their high school diploma.
This past Sunday, June 1st, members of our Cabrini University community traveled to the St Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine in New York City. We had an diverse group of Cabrini alums (at least one from EVERY decade!!), faculty, staff and friends.
Childhood needs more than just basic care; it needs experiences that awaken curiosity, spark dreams, and invite children to discover the world with new eyes. Guided by this belief, the Shekiná and Positive Parenting programs from Dispensario Madre Cabrini, along with the Chispa Modificado program from Dispensario San José, recently carried out two unforgettable activities that left a lasting impact on the children involved.
The closing of Cabrini University in Radnor, PA may have taken place one year ago, however the mission, our loyalty, and friendships continue to remain open and deeply rooted in our hearts as alumni.
