On Monday, University of Illinois at Chicago faculty, administrators, graduate and undergraduate students announced their support for UIC student, Lulu Martinez, and the DREAM 9 who are currently being held at Eloy Detention Center in Arizona. Lulu Martinez, one of the nine “Dreamers” in detention, intends to continue her studies upon her return.

Last month, the nine undocumented youth were detained when they tried to cross the border from Mexico to the U.S. They have now spent more than ten days at Eloy, where some of them are in solitary confinement. All of these youth have lived most of their lives in the United States; they qualify for deferred action and would qualify for lawful status should the federal DREAM Act pass. The DREAM 9 are university students and activists who engaged in this collective action in order to show the toll that deportations are taking on our families and communities.

Faculty members of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) released a letter of support for the ‘Dream 9’. The letter signed by 63 UIC Faculty and Administrative Staff, calls on President Obama and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Principal Legal Adviser Peter Vincent to release the ‘Dream 9’ from Eloy Detention Center. Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Danny Davis are also copied on the letter. The Dream 9 and other detainees have engaged in a hunger strike and two are currently in solitary confinement. Across the country, hundreds have shown their support through solidarity hunger strikes.

Last week, the Graduate Employees Organization at UIC also issued a statement of support, and the UIC Cultural Center has dedicated some of its art installation space to art inspired by the Bring Them Home campaign.