DSU hosts Hispanic panel discussion
The current state of affairs for Hispanics was a serious topic of discussion during a Jan. 23 panel discussion in the Bank of America Building.
The event – “Voices of Empowerment – Calling Hispanic Leaders & Advocates to Unite” – featured panel participants who discussed the challenges and opportunities for Hispanics in the U.S., especially in light of the recent change in U.S. Presidential Administration.
The panelists included Miguel Nuñez, Director of Student Engagement for the Association of Latino Professionals for America, Philadelphia Chapter; Mary DuPont, Founder and Director of La Plaza, a Kent and Sussex counties support organization for Hispanic and minority-owned businesses; and Seth Lupton, an immigration attorney based in southeast Pennsylvania.
The panel also included Rony Baltazar-Lopez, Director of Policy & Communications, Delaware Department of State; Christy Gonzalez of TD Bank; and Iz Balleto, Cultural Program Manager, Delaware Art Museum.
Held in room 309 of the Bank of America Building, the panel spoke before a full room of diverse students – which included a significant contingent of DSU Dreamer students are currently faced with the uncertainty that come with the anti-immigration rhetoric and the early executive orders that could negative impact them and their families.
The Dreamers in attendance were keenly listening to Mr. Lupton, who provided his expert perspective on current immigration issues.
Mr. Lupton noted that President Trump tried to do away with DACA in 2017 the courts stopped him, and then President Biden tried to put forth an executive order that supported DACA and a court opposed that. “This is a back-and-forth struggle. It will come down to the circuit court, which is why elections matter,” Mr. Lupton said.
He said Dreamers who do not have DACA are at serious risk. “If ICE comes knocking on your door, you don’t have to open it,” Mr. Lupton said. He noted that some people allow themselves to be intimidated by ICE officers.
“Then they end up signing a paper, and then they end on a plane taking them out of the United States,” Mr. Lupton said. “But there are people that hold their ground, keep their nerves, keep their doors closed, and ask to see that judge-signed warrant, which is required by law. We still have due process.”
Mary DuPont of La Plaza, said she is seeing a lot Hispanic succeeding in business, and noted that Dreamers without Social Security number may find it a challenge to find employment, but one option is to start a business.
“You don’t need a Social Security number to start a business,” Ms.DuPont said. She added that Hispanics interested in launching their own business should connect with a support organization, such as La Plaza, that can help give an understanding of the requirements that have to be complied with.”
Miguel Nuñez noted the economic importance of Hispanics in the U.S. “The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of Hispanics accounts for $3.2 Trillion,” he said.
Iz Balleto said to mobilize support for Hispanics, trust must be built among our communities. “We have to sit down together, we have to create access through bilingual interpreting, we have to pay attention,” Mr. Balleto said. “We need to empower our people, our roots, because we are all connected.”
The two-hour panel discussion was organized by Dr. Carrie Awadzi, Professor of Practice in the DSU College of Business.