President Donald Trump has vowed to cut funding to so-called “sanctuary cities” that protect undocumented immigrants. But some universities are following suit and labeling themselves as “sanctuary campuses.”
A report on KTTC stated colleges and universities in some states are reacting to fears of immigrant students and following the policies of sanctuary cities.
In New Mexico, the state with the highest percentage of Latino residents, college administrators are considering becoming sanctuary campuses and putting policies and protections in place to allow undocumented students to continue their studies.
There are also moves in Texas, California, Georgia, Illinois and Minnesota to protect immigrant students known as Dreamers.
Trump has pledged to end President Obama’s executive order that granted temporary status to undocumented immigrants. He has promised to set up a “deportation force” and withdraw federal funding from sanctuary cities. Trump has said little about sanctuary campuses.
Although the sanctuary campus term remains an unclear one, there is a push underway to protect undocumented students at universities and colleges across the country, noted The Atlantic.
The president of Wesleyan University reportedly said after consulting with the school’s legal counsel and its board of trustees that the college is going to become a sanctuary campus.
California State University system stated in late 2016 that it would remain a welcoming space for undocumented students.
While the university said it would not be using the “sanctuary” term at any of its 23 campuses in California, it made it clear it will not cooperate with a federal policy that targets immigrant students who live illegally in the country.
The University of California has announced steps to protect its undocumented students. It won’t be helping immigration agents or providing any confidential records without court orders. The university said it will refuse to give information for any national registry based on race, religion or national origin.
Over the next few years, we are likely to be seeing a protracted struggle between universities and cities and the federal authorities over the rights of undocumented immigrants.
Many of these young people have been in the United States for many years and deportations can rip families apart. Please see our Austin immigration lawyers’ success stories about how we have fought deportations.
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