A heated debate erupted amongst Student Association (SA) members and the gallery last Monday, Feb. 2, as senators discussed a new proposal regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on campus.
The proposal, “Resolution to Establish University Responsibilities and Campus Safety Regarding Immigration Enforcement,” was introduced by sophomore Sophia Hasseler and aimed to urge the University’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) to release a statement explaining their role during a hypothetical ICE arrest on campus.
“The Students’ Association in Senate assembled formally requests that the University issues a statement affirming a commitment to student safety and due process consistent with the sanctuary principles adopted by the City of Rochester,” the proposal read.
Conflict arose when discussion was opened to the gallery, leading many to express their opinions on why or why not they think SA should pass the proposal.
Among those hesitant with the proposal was Vice President and junior Sammy Randle III who called the proposal “performative” and without “actionable steps.”
Current Chief of Staff and junior Izabellah Cruz opposed the proposal as well, saying that there was a lack of conference with DPS, and that the consequences of passing the proposal were not entirely thought out.
“Is there not a fear that when ICE hears about this strategy, they would know exactly what to do to be able to get international students?” she said when addressing Hasseler.
These concerns were reiterated by Senator and first-year Ahmed Ahmed. Despite the proposal’s potential benefits, he voiced that it could draw “unwanted attention” to students and “put the communities at further risk.”
Hasseler replied to this saying that the school has already caught the attention of ICE and the Trump administration. “ICE is already on University property. There needs to be a plan in place from DPS to protect our students, and they’re not doing it themselves,” she said. “So we need to push for them to do so.”
President and senior John Conduah met with Deputy Chief of DPS Jon Harrell to provide Hasseler with the information she used when writing the resolution.
Following an executive session called by Senate Speaker and junior Naidhruva Deb, the resolution passed by majority vote.
