On March 12, Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM) hosted an immigration simulation event, sponsored by the Bipartisan Discourse Club in collaboration with the Joe Pitts Center, Asbury Student Congress, and Intercultural Life. Melissa Coulston from KRM designed this interactive event, which highlighted the challenges of immigration while fostering empathy, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of justice and compassion for students.
“Students had the opportunity to go to various stations, each representing different systems and services that immigrants often interact with, such as immigration court, legal services, healthcare, housing, employment, education, and social services,” said Ashton Montgomery ’26, who serves as president of the on-campus Bipartisan Discourse Club. “At each station, volunteers acted as service providers, case workers, or government officials, presenting students with real-life scenarios, such as navigating paperwork, dealing with language barriers, or encountering long wait times and bureaucratic obstacles.”
At the end of the simulation, students processed their experience through a Q&A panel of Asbury faculty and KRM staff.
“I first heard about the immigration simulation last summer when I had the chance to volunteer at a simulation,” Montgomery said. “I knew then that this would be so relevant to conversations happening on our campus, and after I started the Bipartisan Discourse Club, I decided that I wanted to pursue bringing the simulation to our campus.”
Asbury political science professor Dr. Steve Clements ’83 was an observer at the simulation and also served on the panel discussion at the end. Regarding the simulation, he noted, “I was amazed at how much student interest there is in this topic. Immigration, both legal and illegal, has obviously been a huge issue for the U.S. for at least the last decade, and I’m pleased that so many Asbury students want to understand the practical challenges immigrants face, rather than viewing this issue in overly simplistic and politically polarized terms.”
KRM is a nonprofit dedicated to providing resettlement services to refugees through faith- and agency-based co-sponsorship in order to promote self-sufficiency and successful integration into our community. KRM is committed to offering access to community resources and opportunities and to promoting awareness of diversity for the benefit of the whole community.
The Joe Pitts Center for Public Policy provides an opportunity to expand the University’s civic engagement through focusing on issues of human trafficking, humanitarian relief, cultural renewal, preparation for public service, and religious freedom (domestic and international).