With the lingering topic of ethnic relations and immigration, the nation remains divided on how to better assist and protect U.S. borders. As a recurring topic in this year's presidential debate the controversial issue has sparked a broader conversation on how to better address racial relations and the like.
 
On Thursday, April 21, the Alumni Relations Office at Hostos welcomed back Dr. Van Tran to discuss his research on immigration and its pending future. Tran, a Hostos 2002 graduate, received his Ph.D. in Sociology and Social Policy from Harvard University in 2011 and currently holds the title of faculty organizer of the Race, Ethnicity, and Migration Workshop, which provides an interdisciplinary and intellectual home for doctoral students at Columbia University.
 
During his lecture, Tran reflected on the various cultural types that lead to the population of the United States, particularly New York City. In which, the moot point of immigration remained prominent in borough growth and development.


Tran posed many questions to the audience on what they knew about immigration in the U.S. to what actually holds true. This year the country is now resting on over 40 million people who are of immigrant origin. “The diversity of immigration is a highly concentrated phenomenon across the world,” noted Tran. He also discussed the hot button issue of race as it relates to class and policing. Asking the question on how each individual categorizes not only themselves, but also others of different cultural origins they encounter daily, specifically in The Bronx. “A lot of the fear that is driving the politics of immigration has to do with the fact people live in highly segregated communities with very little interaction and engagement with different cultures," said Tran.
 
Hostos ’13 alum and program attendee Marion Guzman was just one of many in attendance whose eyes were further opened on the issue of immigration equality. “I can tell you that immigration is a complex topic and now (from this lecture) I am more motivated to speak on this issue.”
 
Dr. Tran holds a strong hope that with proper knowledge and open discussions, there can be a great shift in immigration policies.
 
For more information on Dr. Van Tran and his studies on immigration click here.
 
About Hostos Community College
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities since 1968. It serves as a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs. The College’s unique Student Success Coaching Unit provides students with individualized guidance and exemplifies its emphasis on student support services.

Named one of the top 10 finalists for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Hostos offers 27 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate easy transfer to The City University of New York’s (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. The College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 24 colleges.