Dorothy Day Lecture Examines Immigration, Policy, and Human Dignity in a Time of Change

At Emmanuel College’s 2026 Dorothy Day Lecture, a panel of immigration advocates gathered to examine one of the most urgent and complex issues of our time: immigration in an era of intensified enforcement and rapidly shifting policy.

Titled “Immigration in the Age of ICE,” the conversation brought together voices from across Greater Boston to explore how changes in federal policy are reshaping immigrant communities—and what responsibility institutions and individuals share in response.

Moderated by Ricardo Jimenez Solis ’20, a staff attorney at the Northeast Justice Center, the panel featured Marjean Perhot, Vice President of Refugee and Immigrant Services at Catholic Charities Boston, and Monique Tú Nguyen, Executive Director of the Boston Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement.

A Changing Landscape

Panelists described a system marked by uncertainty, disruption, and, in many cases, fear.

Perhot pointed to the effective halt of the U.S. refugee resettlement program as one of the most significant recent shifts.

“Refugees are among the most vetted and vulnerable populations,” she said. “To see that system dismantled so suddenly—and families left in limbo—is devastating.”

Nguyen emphasized that the impact is not abstract—it is visible across Boston.

“Families are afraid to leave their homes. Students aren’t showing up to school. Businesses are losing workers and customers,” she said. “You can feel it in neighborhoods across the city.”

While much of the discussion centered on policy, panelists returned repeatedly to the role of narrative in shaping both perception and law.

“It starts with how we talk about people,” Nguyen said. “When a group is labeled as ‘other’ or ‘criminal,’ it becomes easier to justify policies that strip away their rights.”

Drawing on her own experience as a formerly undocumented student, Nguyen reflected on the personal impact of those narratives.

“You begin to internalize that label,” she said. “That’s how dehumanization starts.”

Perhot addressed persistent misconceptions about immigrants, particularly around public benefits.

“Most immigrants are not even eligible for the benefits people assume they’re receiving,” she said, noting that many live in mixed-status families where U.S.-born children may qualify for limited assistance.

At the same time, she emphasized the significant contributions immigrants make to the U.S. economy and society—from essential labor to billions of dollars paid into systems like Social Security.

“We’re often talking about basic human needs—food, healthcare,” she said. “And yet those are framed as controversial.”