Ellie Young, a Western Kentucky University junior from Bowling Green, quickly signed a letter Friday addressed to U.S. Sen. Rand Paul asking him to protect young, undocumented immigrants from deportation.

Young joined other students in Tate Page Hall at the Center for Citizenship and Social Justice who gathered to write letters and call lawmakers asking for their support on a “clean” DREAM Act.

“I wanted to be here to support those who might not have a voice,” said Young, who is also the president of WKU’s Young Democrats chapter.

If passed, the DREAM Act would grant legal status to young undocumented immigrants who were brought to America as children. However, a “clean” DREAM goes one step further by offering legal status to the young immigrant’s immediate family members.

“We don’t want to be in the business of splitting apart families,” said Francisco Serrano, a junior at WKU and the event’s organizer.

In September, President Donald Trump ended the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allowed young undocumented immigrants temporary deferments from deportation on a renewed basis.

Misael Mejia Perez, a freshman from Louisville, isn’t a DACA recipient himself, but has friends who have benefitted from the program.

“I know that situation that students in DACA are in,” he said.

“They have more access to resources,” he said, adding that Trump’s move to end DACA is having an impact. “They’re unsure about what’s going to happen.”

Serrano has seen some encouraging signs from local lawmakers. He said Paul, a Bowling Green Republican, has expressed some sympathy for DACA recipients and expressed support for a limited pathway to citizenship. He also said U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, a Republican of Bowling Green, has supported naturalizing immigrants through military service.

Serrano’s seen greater success winning over other students. Earlier in the week, Serrano succeeded in passing a student government resolution to support DACA students. The resolution passed by a 32-1 margin.

The lobbying campaign Friday was one way to continue that effort.

Serrano noted that the event followed a recent protest by students in Washington, D.C., to support the DREAM Act. The event continued that movement, he said.

“That’s what we’re doing here today,” Serrano said.

This story has been updated since its initial publication to correct the vote tally on the student government resolution to support DACA students.