{"id":13180,"date":"2026-04-09T13:19:42","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T17:19:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/?p=13180"},"modified":"2026-04-16T14:34:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T18:34:01","slug":"saint-peters-university-celebrates-jesuit-mission-day-highlighting-faith-service-and-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/saint-peters-university-celebrates-jesuit-mission-day-highlighting-faith-service-and-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Â鶹´«Ã½AVPeter\u2019s University Hosts Immigration Summit Highlighting Justice, Leadership and Community"},"content":{"rendered":"

JERSEY CITY, N.J. \u2013 April 15, 2026<\/b> \u2013 Â鶹´«Ã½AVPeter\u2019s University co-sponsored and hosted an Immigration Summit on April 15, bringing together students, community members and leaders for a timely conversation on immigration, justice and the role of higher education. The event featured keynote remarks from Jersey City Mayor James Solomon.<\/span><\/p>\n

The summit reflected Â鶹´«Ã½AVPeter\u2019s University\u2019s mission and long-standing commitment to advocacy, inclusion and the dignity of all people.<\/span><\/p>\n

Â鶹´«Ã½AVPeter\u2019s University Chaplain Fr. Rocco Danzi, S.J. spoke and emphasized the deep connection between immigration and Jesuit values, noting that the two have gone hand in hand for more than 500 years. Grounded in <\/span>cura personalis<\/span><\/i>\u2014care for the whole person, he spoke about the importance of looking beyond documentation to recognize each individual\u2019s humanity. He highlighted the call to be \u201cmen and women for and with others,\u201d rooted in shared humanity, solidarity, social justice and hospitality.<\/span><\/p>\n

President Hubert Benitez underscored the University\u2019s responsibility to lead with intention and purpose. \u201cWe are honored by your presence, Mr. Mayor. You are a true friend,\u201d said President Benitez. \u201cThis work is driven by vision, collaboration, hard work and a commitment to justice. \u201cPresident Benitez highlighted the impact of immigrant communities in higher education, noting that their contributions extend far beyond the classroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cImmigrants bring knowledge and perspective shaped by resilience, cultural richness and lived experience,\u201d he said. \u201cImmigrant leaders play a vital role in our universities,they mentor students and challenge institutions to grow. There is power in students seeing leaders who reflect their own journeys. It shows what is possible. \u201cHe added that many students must navigate systems not originally designed with them in mind, reinforcing the need for institutions to act with intention.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are called to educate and accompany in order to create pathways of access with intentionality,\u201d President Benitez said. \u201cAs the first Latino and immigrant president of this University, it is my responsibility to open doors that lead to a more inclusive future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Mayor Solomon, a former adjunct professor at Â鶹´«Ã½AVPeter\u2019s University, spoke about the City\u2019s efforts to support immigrant communities and uphold public trust. He referenced an executive order signed early in his administration at Liberty State Park, recognizing the historic journey of immigrants arriving through Ellis Island and reinforcing the City\u2019s commitment to inclusion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe want residents to feel safe contacting the police to report crimes without fear,\u201d Solomon said, outlining policies that distinguish between judicial warrants and administrative detainers. He emphasized that city agencies will not be used to support federal immigration enforcement efforts, while acknowledging the limits of mayoral authority.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo mayor has the power to ban federal enforcement, but we will use our voice and work diligently to protect our community,\u201d he said. \u201cJersey City was built by immigrants, and our policies are about defending that legacy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>At the conclusion of the event, Mayor Solomon presented a formal proclamation to President Benitez in recognition of Â鶹´«Ã½AVPeter\u2019s University\u2019s ongoing commitment to education, community engagement and support for immigrant populations.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Immigration Summit reinforced Â鶹´«Ã½AVPeter\u2019s University\u2019s role as a convener of critical conversations and a leader in advancing justice through education and community partnership.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

JERSEY CITY, N.J. \u2013 April 15, 2026 \u2013 Â鶹´«Ã½AVPeter\u2019s University co-sponsored and hosted an Immigration Summit on April 15, bringing together students, community members and leaders for a timely conversation on immigration, justice and the role of higher education. The event featured keynote remarks from Jersey City Mayor James Solomon. The summit reflected Â鶹´«Ã½AV[…]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1293,"featured_media":13209,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3,5,2,6],"tags":[34],"class_list":["post-13180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-current-students","category-faculty-staff","category-future-students","category-press-release","tag-press"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nÂ鶹´«Ã½AVPeter\u2019s University Hosts Immigration Summit Highlighting Justice, Leadership and Community - News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Â鶹´«Ã½AVPeter's University welcomed its largest freshmen class in either years as the 25-26 year kicks off with Mass of the Holy Spirit.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/saint-peters-university-celebrates-jesuit-mission-day-highlighting-faith-service-and-community\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"dbocchino\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/saint-peters-university-celebrates-jesuit-mission-day-highlighting-faith-service-and-community\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/saint-peters-university-celebrates-jesuit-mission-day-highlighting-faith-service-and-community\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"dbocchino\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/e34d0022b2f64ab992c01054c76a4ab2\"},\"headline\":\"Â鶹´«Ã½AVPeter\u2019s University Hosts Immigration Summit Highlighting Justice, Leadership and Community\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-09T17:19:42+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-16T18:34:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/saint-peters-university-celebrates-jesuit-mission-day-highlighting-faith-service-and-community\/\"},\"wordCount\":545,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/saint-peters-university-celebrates-jesuit-mission-day-highlighting-faith-service-and-community\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/230\/files\/2026\/04\/Immigration-Summit-flyer.png\",\"keywords\":[\"press\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Alumni\",\"Current Students\",\"Faculty Staff\",\"Future Students\",\"Press Release\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/saint-peters-university-celebrates-jesuit-mission-day-highlighting-faith-service-and-community\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/saint-peters-university-celebrates-jesuit-mission-day-highlighting-faith-service-and-community\/\",\"name\":\"Â鶹´«Ã½AVPeter\u2019s University Hosts Immigration Summit Highlighting Justice, Leadership and Community - 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