Gigi Giordano, director of counseling and psychological services at the Center for Well-Being, spoke to MinnPost about the anxiety experienced by international students during the recent ICE operations in the Twin Cities. Giordano explained that prolonged uncertainty and fear surrounding immigration enforcement can increase anxiety, disrupt concentration and deepen feelings of isolation, and said colleges are maintaining expanded counseling and support services even as the federal surge winds down.
From the article:
Gigi Giordano, director of counseling and psychological services at the University of St. Thomas’ Center for Well-Being, said that the ambiguous, unsettled feelings created by the ICE surge, and even the slow drawdown, is having a negative impact on students across campus. “Whenever students experience a period of prolonged uncertainty, fear for family members or feel unsure, there is a real psychological consequence, including increased anxiety, difficulty concentrating on school and a sense of isolation.”
In the fall, St. Thomas admitted 120 international students, the largest number in the university’s history. Giordano said that the school also has many students who self-identify as members of at-risk communities. “We have students on campus who are international or just immigrants. We have many first- and second-generation students. We have many students with mixed-status families. We have many students who are not concerned about their own safety but are worried about their family members and what they would do if someone was detained.”
