Last week, the Latine Undergraduate Network of Activists (LUNA) celebrated the 10th anniversary of UNDOCU week, a series of campus events dedicated to empowering undocumented students and centering the voices of immigrant communities. This weeklong series featured hands-on community events from “Screen Printing for Liberation and Education” to “Nuestra Noche: A Night of Community,” bringing students, allies, and advocates together.
For Jesus Aguilar Martinez, a sophomore critical diversity studies major, UNDOCU week carried an added significance amid the current political climate. “I had the privilege of being the External Events Coordinator for Undocuweek’s 10th Anniversary, and I could not be more proud of the outcome of this year’s series of events. We had the privilege of collaborating with new departments and organizations both on and off-campus, creating new communities, while also educating and honoring the lives we have lost to the recent ICE Kidnappings and current administration overall.”
Among the week’s highlights was a panel titled “Inside the System: Legal Experts Unpack Immigration,” where four immigration attorneys discussed the complexities of the U.S. immigration system. Panelists spoke about multiple pressing issues, such as the challenges migrants face both before and after crossing the border, the differences between immigration and criminal courts, why immigration cases often take years to resolve and how existing infrastructure falls short in holding agencies like ICE and Border Patrol accountable for misconduct and abuse.
In an interview, LUNA president, Metzi Lemus, a senior critical diversity studies major, discussed what inspired this year’s UNDOCU week and the vision behind the events. “It’s easy to feel stuck and overwhelmed, so we wanted something hands-on and tangible—something that connects liberation to community. We went beyond workshops to distribute accurate information that people could bring back to their communities.”
Reflecting on the importance of UNDOCU week, Lemus added, “For a university that prides itself on ethnic diversity, supporting marginalized voices is essential. The backbone of representation here comes from student organizations; students who go to class, participate in clubs, and work are the ones who create spaces where others feel welcome. Ensuring the longevity of that representation means passing the torch so future students don’t just survive, but thrive.”
Similarly, Martinez spoke about LUNA’s mission, emphasizing how it serves as a support for all undocumented students. “This year, we did something different with UNDOCU week: we created a sense where we all know that everything that is going on in the country right now is affecting all of us in some sort of way. We continued keeping our mission close, and our revamped values closer: LUNA stands with all immigrant communities, and is devoted to using our platform to demonstrate the beauty of undocumented communities at USF.”
