The Executive Boards of the Massachusetts State College Association (MSCA) and the Association of Professional Administrators (APA) stand in unequivocal support of Mariola, a student at Salem State University, and we call for an immediate halt to any efforts to detain or deport her. Mariola is a valued member of the Salem State community, a dedicated student in the field of education, and a committed paraprofessional serving young learners in a Lynn public school. She is also a single mother raising a U.S. born son, to whom she has provided care, stability, and opportunity while pursuing her own education. Her story reflects a strong commitment to public service, and deep engagement in the communities our institutions are meant to serve.

Mariola came to Massachusetts 16 years ago seeking refuge from violence, discrimination, and persecution in Guatemala, where, as an Indigenous Mayan woman, she experienced systemic injustice and threats to her safety. Like many who are forced to flee their home countries, she made the difficult decision to leave in search of protection and the possibility of a secure future. Since arriving in the United States, she has been a caregiver, an active member of the community, earned her associate’s degree, and is now completing her bachelor’s degree

Mariola’s deportation notice raises urgent concerns not only for her and her son, but for the broader campus and local communities to which she contributes. Immigration enforcement practices that target long-standing community members, particularly students and families, undermine the mission of public higher education. They disrupt learning environments, create fear and instability, and erode the trust necessary for students to succeed.

As educators, we are especially mindful that Salem State University is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for a diverse student body to learn, grow, and thrive. Actions that threaten the safety and stability of students like Mariola directly undermine that mission and the core values we are charged with upholding.

Across the country, educators have witnessed how aggressive immigration enforcement creates anxiety among students and families, leading to decreased school attendance and diminished educational outcomes. These policies disproportionately impact communities already facing systemic inequities. They also force students and families to navigate complex legal systems often without access to adequate representation. In  many cases, deportation has returned individuals to dangerous conditions, with documented instances of violence against those who have been forcibly removed.

As educators and union members, we affirm that our mission is inseparable from the well-being of our students. We cannot fulfill that mission in an environment where students live in fear of separation from their families or removal from the communities they call home. We cannot and will not remain silent when that harm is imminent.

The MSCA and APA Executive Boards jointly:

• Call for an immediate halt to the detention and deportation of Mariola, and urge immigration authorities to consider the human, educational, and community consequences of such action;

• Affirm the right of all students to pursue their education free from fear, and recognizes the essential contributions of immigrant students and workers to our institutions and communities;

• Urge policymakers to ensure access to legal protections and due process for immigrants, by speaking out publicly and passing strong protections against ICE (such as the People’s Protection Act); and

• Encourage MSCA and APA members and allies to support efforts, through all lawful means, to prevent unjust deportations and to stand in solidarity with students like Mariola.

Mariola belongs in her community, in her classroom, and with her son. We stand with her, and we call on our colleagues, community members, and public officials to do the same.

Those interested in sharing their support of Mariola, may do so at the following link: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/ice-stop-deportation-of-mariola?source=direct_link&