On March 30, the Spring 2017 Series “Not My Normal: Resisting Systemic Oppression” at the University of Massachusetts Boston continued with another event surrounding topics such as injustice, persecution, rights, and protest. It featured special guest Karma R. Chávez from the University of Texas at Austin. There, she is currently an Associate Professor and the Director of Graduate Studies at the university’s Department of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies. Apart from teaching, Chávez is also a published author of several books and academic papers, as well as an activist for LGBTQ and immigrants’ rights.
According to Chávez, her focus of studies are “primarily informed by queer people of color theory and women of color feminism,” and her work “emphasizes the rhetorical practices of groups marginalized within existing power structures.”
The human rights keynote that the author gave on the UMass Boston campus was called “On Sanctuary and Fugitivity: Considerations for Immigration Politics.” Several programs and departments at UMass Boston hosted this special lecture, including the Human Rights Minor, the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, the Labor Resource Center, Latino Studies, American Studies, and Transnational, Cultural, and Community Studies.
During her presentation, Chávez explained the general meaning and historic background of sanctuary in the United State. In the past, it was often only churches and other religious facilities that harbored people who were fleeing from law enforcement and were looking for refuge from authorities. Furthermore, Chávez also went on to explain the contradictions and confusion that arise when lawmakers or other elected officials talk about the legality of sanctuary cities or areas. In many cases, local politicians or police might reaffirm the sanctuary status while federal agencies, especially the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), do not necessarily follow that.
Especially given the recent change in administration under Trump, sanctuary cities all across the United States have become less and less secure for undocumented immigrants to live in. Chávez pointed to specific executive orders that President Trump has signed so far, which represent an attitude against immigrants and travelers of color and from very specific countries, such as Mexico and Middle Eastern countries. While there has been legal action taken to push back against these orders by various courts, cities and institutions, the overall feeling of insecurity remains for many immigrants, especially those from Latin and South America.
Chávez then also discussed the emergence of unsettling news reports that raids at “sensitive locations,” such as churches, schools, and hospitals, are being conducted, and that even a number of DACA recipients have been deported. Even though the Trump administration and ICE are technically still following the law because “legal sanctuary doesn’t really exist,” Chávez questioned whether they are violating basic human rights.
Additionally, Chávez emphasized the importance of support infrastructure for immigrants during these current ambiguous political times. Furthermore, the author also called for an expansion of sanctuary spaces to more groups who are oppressed or under threat, especially at universities.
“If we provide sanctuary for undocumented people on our campuses, why do we not provide it for other criminalized populations, like trans, black, and Indigenous citizens?”