During the winter of 2016 I started a petition to make JMU a sanctuary campus. To be honest, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I'd never started a petition before, never protested, never been part of a movement. 10 signatures quickly became hundreds of names, which snowballed into interviews with local newspapers and news stations. Every moment I was learning and re-learning and struggling with what it meant to listen to the needs of a community and to educate and advocate and empathize and march and lead and follow. 

The petition led to a meeting with President Alger, which led to more work to see my goals through to the end. JMU created a web page specifically dedicated to resources and information for students with DACA and soon other clubs and organizations around JMU began to fight for the rights of immigrants.

In the end, JMU did not officially designate itself as a sanctuary campus. However, I saw for myself that mountains can move, even if it's just an inch. But you have to fight tooth and nail for every bit of it.

I'd like to thank you all so much for taking the time to add your name to this cause. In a little over 24 hrs, 283 people have made their voices heard. Now is the time to continue to push forward. Reach out to someone who hasn't heard about this petition and urge them to sign it.

I've included an article written by Henry Clayton Wickham written for RVA Mag which sheds light into the horrors that occur in immigrant prisons.

Thank you for your time, compassion, and action,

Diego F. Salinas