On January 20, Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Benjamine Huffman, issued a directive reversing Biden-era guidelines that had limited Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations in sensitive locations like schools and churches.
This move follows a series of executive actions by former President Donald Trump aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement, including increased deportations, detaining migrants in Guantanamo Bay, and questioning the validity of birthright citizenship, which has been guaranteed under the 14th Amendment.
These policies have sparked controversy among the University of Arizona community, leading to a protest on February 8 at University and Campbell streets. In response, the UA College Democrats are pressing the university to clarify its stance on cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
On February 3, Ben Armentrout, President of UA College Democrats, sent an email to several university offices—Public Records, General Counsel, Registrar, and Public Safety—seeking clarification on how the university handles student information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in relation to ICE.
In his email, Armentrout asked if the university has policies that restrict the release of student information to law enforcement without a warrant, including ICE. He also inquired about any limitations on the use of FERPA’s health and safety emergency exception for immigration enforcement and whether faculty and staff have been given guidelines on responding to ICE activities on campus.
Armentrout emphasized that the goal was not to criticize the university, but to gain clarity on how it ensures the safety of students. “I am operating under an assumption of good faith by UA with regards to threats against student safety on campus,” he wrote. However, as of the article’s publication, Armentrout had yet to receive a response.
On February 5, the UA College Dems issued an open letter to UA President Suresh Garimella and the Board of Regents, outlining steps the university should take to protect students. The next day, they launched a petition in support of these demands, which has garnered 845 signatures.
The petition calls for the university to stop cooperating with ICE without a judicial warrant, protect student data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), distribute “Know Your Rights” information, train faculty and staff on dealing with DHS encounters, and issue a public statement affirming the university’s commitment to a safe and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of immigration status.
In a February 6 meeting, Armentrout explained that the petition’s roots lay in conversations with Hispanic students on campus. “I believe the University of Arizona community supports students being here and learning safely,” he said. He also expressed concern about the lack of clear guidance for faculty and staff, noting that many had not received communication from the university on how to handle potential ICE activity.
“The frustration from faculty and staff is real,” Armentrout stated. “Resident assistants have started discussing how to protect residents, but faculty members feel left out of the loop.”
To further address these concerns, the UA College Dems hosted a “Hands Off Our Students” event on February 12, in collaboration with Students for Justice in Palestine and Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA). The event featured a “Know Your Rights” demonstration by LUCHA, with role-playing exercises and the distribution of “Know Your Rights” cards from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.
Alex Sanchez, LUCHA Communications Coordinator and a UA alumnus, spoke about the broader implications of Trump’s policies. “This isn’t just about economics; it’s about tearing apart Arizona families,” Sanchez said. “We need to confront growing wealth inequality and stand against the scapegoating of immigrant communities.”
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