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CU-Lock Haven honors students visit Amica Center for Immigrant Rights

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (07/03/2025) — This spring, seven honors students from the Eileen G. Jones Honors College of the Commonwealth University-Lock Haven campus traveled to Washington D.C. to visit the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights.

The trip was developed as a part of the students' Central American Immigration class. They were joined by three social work faculty members, Dr. Ann Jane Ross, Tulare Park and Dr. Steven Granich, along with an additional 15 student members of the CU-Lock Haven Social Work Club.

The honors students had been studying various aspects of Central American immigration including the history of Central America, reasons for immigration, the legal process of becoming a citizen, assimilation, transnationalism, remittances and detention and deportation of immigrants. The social work students study methods of practice with a wide range of individuals, groups, and families - including immigrants.

The trip to Washington D.C. included visits to national monuments and museums and was an opportunity for the students to visit an agency which helps immigrants who want to live and work in the United States. The Amica Center staff conducted a presentation on the agency's work, which has detained adult and children's programs, volunteer program to help immigrants and Immigration Impact Lab (legal program for immigrants).

Speakers described their work with detained immigrants and unaccompanied minors, including legal support and advocacy, social services and connections to various resources. The agency assists immigrants coming to the United States from around the world. This was a unique opportunity for the students to learn about the immigration legal process and work that is being done to support immigrants in the United States from individuals immersed in this system.

Honors students who participated in the trip were Ashleigh Aukerman, of Bellefonte; Lizzy Goldheart, of Drums; Rose Jeffes, of Hatboro; Hope Lapinski, of Bloomsburg; Allison Lininger, of Howard; Summer Strauss, of Lancaster; and Kaylee Swartzlander, of Mifflinburg.