MDC United Provides Support System For Undocumented Students

As a 12th grader at Miami Senior High School, Idalia Quinteros struggled to find a college that would offer her a scholarship.

Despite having a 3.8 unweighted grade point average, the teen’s undocumented status proved to be problematic.  

Eventually, she found her way to the Honors College at Wolfson Campus on a full-ride scholarship. Two years later, after earning her associate’s degree in business administration, she transferred to Syracuse University thanks to a private grant.

But before graduating from MDC in May of 2021, Quinteros planted the idea in some of her classmates to start a club to assist undocumented students. 

This fall, Mia Galvez, Felicia Ruotolo, Isabella Cunningham and Damariz Sosa established MDC United, a chapter of United We Dream—the largest immigrant youth-led network in the United States that supports, engages and empowers immigrants—at Wolfson Campus. It has 15 members.

“The club is like a general plug for resources and a place to be around other undocumented students and learn how being undocumented has impacted them,” said Quinteros, who is now 21.

MDC United’s focus is to provide a safe space for undocumented students and their allies to ask questions, be informed, educate and advocate. One of the organization’s first events will be a virtual DACA renewal clinic on Nov. 6. 

The club is divided into three committees—action, community service and digital.

The action committee will participate in local UWD campaigns, the community service committee will connect with local outreach groups—such as the Florida Immigrant Coalition—to serve immigrant communities looking for volunteers and the digital committee will oversee the club’s Instagram account. 

Members will meet through Zoom twice a month. 

“We welcome different perspectives and confidentiality,” said Cunningham, a 19-year-old working toward her associate’s degree in political science. “This is the place to talk about issues that concern undocumented students and take action.”

Cunningham, the club’s secretary, knows first-hand the struggles undocumented immigrants face.

She came to the United States from Colombia when she was five with her mother in search of financial stability and educational opportunities. Cunningham was granted citizenship through her father, but because her parents were divorced, her mom didn’t qualify and remained undocumented for more than eight years. 

“I lived through her that fear of being undocumented and the obstacles,” Cunningham said. “It’s an important part of what I fight for. It has shaped my identity.”

Galvez, the club’s president, has also seen her family struggle because of their immigration status.

When Galvez was six years old, her grandmother was given a deportation penalty that forced her to return to her home country—Chile—for 10 years. 

Three years ago, the family reunited after Galvez’s grandmother obtained her green card.

“I want to work against deportation and work to prevent it,” Galvez said. “I wanted to get involved in the club so that no other family would have to go through that type of separation.”

Sociology professor Alejandro Angée agreed to be the club’s advisor because of his experience as an undocumented immigrant.

After his mother, Ligia Sanchez, passed away when he was nine, his 20-year-old brother, Mauricio, and 17-year-old sister, Monica, brought him to Miami from Colombia.

Angée, who is 44, remained undocumented throughout middle and high school but received his green card when he was 24.

“MDC United will empower undocumented and documented students through community projects that improve the lives of people,” Angée said.

For more information about MDC United, contact Mia Galvez at mia.galvez001@mymdc.net or Alejandro Angée at aangee@mdc.edu.