Third year chemical engineering student Carimer Andujar has been an outspoken advocate for the rights of undocumented students, joining the Rutgers AFT unions in calling on Rutgers University to provide ‘sanctuary’ to undocumented students. Andujar’s DACA renewal was delayed and she was called for a meeting with ICE May 9. Due to concern that Andujar could be deported or detained, Rutgers faculty union spearheaded a community response to mobilize supporters, call on politicians, and eventually accompany her to the federal building in Newark for her hearing.
The action in support of Andujar and her compelling story generated considerable press attention. As indicated in the latest reports, Andujar and her lawyer anticipate renewal of her DACA application.
Rutgers student released after meeting with ICE amid deportation fears, By Karen Yi, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
NEWARK — A Rutgers University student and immigrant activist who some people feared could have be detained walked free Tuesday after meeting with immigration officials in Newark.
Carimer Andujar, 21, is expected to receive a work permit and protection from deportation in the next week, her attorney Jason Scott Camilo told NJ Advance Media. He said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement interviewed Andujar and fingerprinted her but did not ask her to return.
“It was very satisfying to see the movement that was created,” said Josue Hildalgo, Andujar’s friend and fellow Rutgers student. He said hundreds rallied outside the federal immigration building for Andujar, including students, clergy members and other activists.
“It opens the door for us to not only advocate for Carimer but for other people,” he added.
Andujar, a junior at Rutgers and president of a UndocuRutgers, a student organization supporting undocumented students, was summoned by ICE officers while she was applying to renew her protected status. Her supporters said Andujar’s meeting with ICE was an “intimidation tactic” because of her activism in the community.
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A ‘Dreamer’ Meets The Feds, And Brings Hundreds Of Her Friends, Matt Katz, WNYC News, MAY 10, 2017
Tensions are high when Carimer Andujar, an undocumented Rutgers University student, is summoned to appear at ICE offices in Newark
Carimer Andujar speaks to supporters after she leaves a meeting with immigration agents that she feared would lead to her deportation.
After other immigrants were thrown into detention when they showed up for meetings with federal authorities, a Rutgers University student brought backup when she went to her appointment on Tuesday.
Carimer Andujar was just four when she arrived from the Dominican Republic with her mother, who was fleeing domestic abuse. Although Carimer was undocumented, she was protected from immediate deportation under then-President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA.
But a few weeks after President Trump’s inauguration, Andujar, who lives in Passaic, New Jersey, received a letter from Immigration and Customs Enforcement: She had to come to the federal building in Newark. No explanation was given.
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Undocumented Rutgers Student Carimer Andujar Allowed to Stay After Visit With ICE, By Brian Thompson, 8:47 PM EDT on May 9, 2017
(Published Tuesday, May 9, 2017)
An undocumented immigrant and student activist at Rutgers was summoned to ICE immigration offices in Newark on Tuesday, fearful she would be ordered to her homeland, the Dominican Republic.
More than 100 people demonstrated outside the Peter W. Rodino, Jr. Federal Building in support of Carimer Andujar, a Rutgers junior and chemical engineering student. Andujar came to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic at 4 years old and is a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.
“I was very nervous, because when I first received the letter it was almost as if my entire world were flipped upside down,” Andujar said.
Andujar was ultimately not detained. She returned as a hero of sorts to the rally, and to cheers of “Ho, ho, hey, hey — Carimer is here to stay!”
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Union and Community Rally in Support of DACA-mented Student
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AFT
Rutgers DREAMer Meets with ICE as Supporters Rally Outside, 5-9-17, By Brenda Flanagan, Correspondent
About 300 supporters rallied around DREAMer Carimer Andujar as she arrived to keep her appointment at the ICE deportation office in Newark. With her DACA paperwork lapsed and pending renewal, the 21-year-old Rutgers chemical engineering major welcomed the crowd.
“I didn’t sleep last night. I am a bit nervous. I am so grateful for all the support that I have, but there’s still like lingering doubt something might happen,” she said.
At age 4, Andujar moved with her mom to Passaic from the Dominican Republic. On campus, she’s been an outspoken advocate for unauthorized immigrants — despite concerns that spotlight might draw attention from ICE, which ordered her to report today.
“People realize that, you know, I could be your friend or your classmate or your neighbor and that most of us don’t fulfill the stereotypes that are implored against us,” she said.
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Hundreds accompany undocumented Rutgers student to ICE meeting, Stephen Weiss
Hundreds of people of all races, religions and nationalities gathered outside of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters in Newark, New Jersey this morning in support of Carimer Andujar, an undocumented Rutgers student who is being threatened with deportation.
Andujar, who has been living in the United States since the age of 4, is a School of Engineering junior and the president of UndocuRutgers — a community and advocacy group for the hundreds of undocumented students at the University.
Andujar was scheduled to meet with an ICE agent this morning after her protection under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) expired on April 12.
Following her meeting, Andujar exited the building and was immediately swarmed by her patiently waiting supporters.
“I do intend to stay here, I do intend to finish my education and I do intend to chase my dreams,” she said to the crowd. “America is the only home that I have known. Like a lot of undocumented students, this is the only place that I call home.”
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Undocumented Rutgers student not detained after meeting with ICE officials, Monsy Alvarado, NorthJersey.com, 2:07 p.m., May 9, 2017
After her meeting she said her fingerprints were taken and that federal officials were aware of those who were rallying for her.
“The support I’ve gotten is completely overwhelming in the most amazing way,” she said.
Her attorney, Jason Scott Camilo, who has a practice in New Brunswick, said a few weeks ago that it was the first time that a client of his who had been approved for DACA had been summoned to meet with ICE.
Camilo and Andujar said they expect her DACA renewal to come through in a few weeks.
While she was inside, supporters chanted “no hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here,” and “we stand with Carimer.”
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Acompañada por decenas de personas, la dreamer Carimer Andujar cumplió su cita ante inmigración
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“Carimer is Here to Stay,” John Connelly, May 9, 2017
Carimer Andujar left her hearing at the Peter Rodino Federal Building after being released by ICE today to cheers of “the people, united will never be defeated” and “Carimer is here to stay!” Addressing the crowd, she thanked the groups who rallied to defend her, announced her plans to continue studying at Rutgers, and caused the crowd to break out in cheers when she declared “the power of the people is stronger than the people in power.”
Andujar’s case is very much evidence of that. While she was inside the Peter Rodino Federal Building in Newark being interviewed by ICE, a well-attended rally was taking place outside. The rally featured speakers from labor unions, student organizations, religious communities, and immigrants rights groups, representing a diverse network of people from across the state who will to stand up for immigrants in their communities. Several speakers tied Andujar’s case to other recent incidents of undocumented immigrants being targeted by ICE, including Seth Kaper-Dale, a candidate for governor and pastor whose church was sheltering four Indonesian Christians detained by ICE yesterday.
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Rutgers community rallies in support of DACA student, Raven Santana, May 9, 2017, 1:42 pm
Carmier Andujar, 21-year-old engineering student was summoned to the federal immigration office in Newark to discuss her immigration status
Rutgers University students are becoming activists and voicing their support for a fellow student Tuesday.
Carimer Andujar is studying chemical engineering at Rutgers, and on Tuesday she had to discuss her status with a federal immigration officer in Newark.
Andujar came to America with her sister and mother when she was four-years-old in order to escape a domestic violence situation in their native Dominican Republic.
Andujar grew up New Jersey and was awaiting renewal of her protected status as a DACA child when she received the notice to appear before an immigration officer.
That prompted the rally, which saw hundreds line the street in support of Andujar. After the hearing she thanked her supporters, promising to fight for her right to stay in America and said that the power of the people supersedes the people in power.
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Hundreds Rally in Newark for Carimer, the Undocumented Rutgers Student Facing Deportation, Jack Murtha, May 9, 2017 at 1:38 PM
“Let us stand with the new Americans who will build the 21st century of America,” Lucye Millerand, president of the Union of Rutgers Administrators, said, echoing a common sentiment in the movement. “Let us stand with Carimer.”
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Rally Held For Rutgers Engineering Student Facing Deportation, May 09, 2017 12:44PM
NEWARK, New Jersey — A rally was held Tuesday for a Rutgers University engineering student who had been facing possible deportation.
Students turned out in support of Carimer Andujar, who came to the United States with her mother and sister to escape domestic violence in the Dominican Republic.
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Meet Carimer Andujar: Rutgers Student & Immigration Activist Who Faces Possible Deportation Today
Update: Carimer Andujar met with ICE officials today and was allowed to remain free.
Twenty-one-year-old Carimer Andujar came to the United States from the Dominican Republic with her family at the age of four. She is now in her third year studying chemical engineering at Rutgers University, where she has been an outspoken advocate for undocumented students. This morning, her future in this country is in limbo, as she’s reporting to an ICE check-in, where she could face possible deportation. We spoke to Carimer yesterday as she prepared for today’s check-in.
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Futuro de una universitaria, beneficiaria de DACA, está en vilo por una citación de ICE
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