Club formed to support undocumented students

Whether they know it or not, enrolled undocumented students have a safe haven where all their questions can be answered in association with a club on campus.

We Bring Unity for Immigrants and Life to their Dreams (B.U.I.L.D.) is a campus organization that is dedicated to support the undocumented students on campus. These students can come to the club in search of solutions to their financial, academic, or social lives.

“We support AB 540 undocumented students. Being undocumented is who we are,” said We B.U.I.L.D President Cinthya Murillo, 22. “It’s different struggles that are different from anybody else. We do the best we can to overcome these struggles and succeed academically.”

AB 540 is a California state law that allows qualified undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rather than out-of-state tuition at California’s public higher education institutions, such as Pierce.

According to Murillo, a former undocumented student, the club will accept any fresh face to join the club in its mission statement. Whether the student is documented or undocumented, any student is an ally. We B.U.I.L.D secretary

We B.U.I.L.D meets Tuesdays from 121 p.m. in Business Education 3201 and Wednesday from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in North Gym 5601

-Cinthya Murillo We B.U.I.L.D president

Jaclyn Orellana, 23, majoring in preveterinary science joined the club four semesters ago to help the students on campus fight for their rights.

“They deserve their rights. We’re a family and we support everyone,” Orellana said. “If you need advice or help with school or outside of school, this is a place that you could trust.”

According to Murillo and Orellana, the club offers tutoring, workshops, and conferences to educate students on how to use any state or government law to their advantage and succeed academically. Orellana also said that the club is currently opting to fundraise a scholarship for one of their own club members at the end of the semester.

“I joined because I’m in the same situation where I’m undocumented,” said Willy Javier Morales, 21, majoring in psychology. “It’s good to know there are other undocumented students. During the meeting, we get together and there’s good stability.”

The clubs hosts its yearly conferences, said Morales. These conferences are workshops such as “Immigrant Rights” or “Know Your Rights” that take place in oncampus classrooms as well as the Great Hall.

“I know on campus there are thousands of undocumented students,” said Murillo. “We advise, counsel, tutor. We help students transfer to UCLA and Berkeley. I want to do what people didn’t do for me when I was undocumented. If students are having financial needs, they can come to us and we can help them. ”

The club focuses on educating the community, supporting undocumented students, and advocating pro-immigrant legislation. Meetings take place Tuesdays and Wednesdays in BUS 3201.