(L-R) Cynthia Katz, Denise Herrera, and Dr. Kristopher Burrell.
At Hostos Community College, immigration is not an abstract policy issue. At the institution, it is the heartbeat of its people. That was powerfully evident at “Beyond Borders: Future of Immigration in America,” the last Spring 2025 event of Black at Hostos, a town hall series born out of international calls for racial justice after the assassination of George Floyd in 2020. Now, in the fifth year since the series’ establishment, the community came together to focus the conversation on the human toll of immigration policies and the strength that comes from shared struggle.
Moderated by Dr. Kristopher Burrell, Associate Professor of History, the discussion was led by Cynthia Catz, Managing Attorney at HIAS (previously the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), and Denise Herrera ’18, a Hostos alumna now serving as an immigration social worker at The Bronx Defenders.
Hostos President Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis, herself an immigrant, opened the event by reflecting on her own story and the importance of having this conversation at Hostos, where a significant part of its community consists of immigrants or descendants of immigrants. She reminded the audience that five out of eight members of her Executive Cabinet were born outside of the United States. "Kindred spirits are anyone, however diverse they may be, who share your values, your hope, and your care," she offered, affirming Hostos as a sanctuary for the immigrant experience.
Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis during her opening remarks.
This gathering was about more than policy. It was about people and their stories, fears, resilience, and hopes. Both Catz and Herrera illuminated the current landscape of immigration in America, a space fraught with historical injustices, but now intensified by policies that weaponize fear.
Herrera, who experienced the deportation of her father under the Obama administration, laid bare the cruelty of criminalizing poverty and immigration. “Regardless of the harm they may or may not have caused, everyone deserves the right to due process,” she insisted. Her father’s deportation over a decades-old minor offense embodied the structural violence that ensnares immigrant communities.
Denise Herrera offered helpful advice on dealing with trauma.
For her part, Katz, drawing on over 20 years of legal advocacy, echoed this sentiment, describing the current moment as "history repeating itself on steroids." She recalled receiving panicked calls from clients too afraid to leave their homes, terrified by rumors of ICE raids in subways and schools. "Even if someone isn’t deported, the trauma of detention and the constant fear… those scars run deep, not just for the individual, but for entire families and communities," she said.
Katz has over 20 years of experience in the field of immigration law.
Throughout the conversation, both Herrera and Katz emphasized the necessity of collective care and preparedness for those navigating the immigration system. They urged individuals, especially those working in immigrant communities, to cultivate support networks and practice self-care to avoid burnout, whether through mindfulness, meditation, or connecting with trusted colleagues.
Katz stressed the importance of “putting on your own oxygen mask first” so advocates can continue the fight without being consumed by secondary trauma. For individuals at risk, especially those with vulnerable immigration statuses, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, Katz offered firm guidance: do not travel outside the U.S. without first consulting a qualified immigration attorney.
She also highlighted “digital hygiene,” the practice of securing or deleting sensitive information from devices when traveling, knowing that phones can be inspected at ports of entry. Herrera echoed these strategies and added the importance of building a resource pool within the community, ensuring no one feels they must face these systems alone. “Even my own mom thinks I know everything, but I don’t,” Denise shared, underscoring the importance of leaning on others, pooling knowledge, and ensuring trusted access to legal, mental health, and social services. Both speakers agreed: safety and well-being are collective efforts, and no one can or should shoulder these burdens alone.
For Hostos, an institution recognized for uplifting students from some of the most underserved communities in New York, this event was a dialogue and an affirmation of its mission. Black at Hostos will continue to be a commitment to naming injustice, nurturing resilience, and reminding every student and community member: you belong here.