USF Faculty Senate Questions Immigration Enforcement Agreement with ICE

News Summary

The University of South Florida Faculty Senate has expressed concerns over a proposed 287(g) agreement allowing campus police to enforce immigration laws. In a recent meeting, faculty members emphasized potential negative impacts on student trust and safety, particularly among the international community. With an overwhelming majority, the Senate passed a resolution urging university leadership to withdraw from the agreement, citing transparency issues and the risk of diverting resources from campus safety to immigration enforcement.

Tampa’s USF Faculty Senate Raises Eyebrows Over Campus Police Immigration Agreement

In a recent meeting, the University of South Florida (USF) Faculty Senate gathered to discuss a contentious 287(g) agreement that would allow the university’s police to partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in enforcing immigration laws. This agreement has sparked rising concerns, particularly among USF’s vibrant international community.

A Sobering Development

Amidst a backdrop of uncertainty, the 287(g) agreement has not yet taken effect. However, faculty members are urging the university’s leadership to consider the potential repercussions this arrangement might bring to students from diverse backgrounds. Concerns revolve around whether students would be required to carry proof of their immigration status while on campus, a notion that many find alarming and unnecessary.

The Signatories

USF’s University Police Chief, Christopher Daniel, has signed off on this agreement, which grants campus police the authority to detain, question, or arrest individuals suspected of being in the country illegally. Similar agreements are already in place at other Florida institutions, such as the University of Florida, Florida Atlantic University, and Florida International University.

Concerns Raised by Faculty

During the meeting, Faculty Senate President David Simmons outlined five major concerns regarding the impacts of the agreement, including a potential diversion of resources from campus safety to immigration enforcement. Voicing their apprehensions, the Senate voted overwhelmingly, with a 57-3 count, to adopt a resolution urging USF leadership to withdraw from the agreement. Additionally, they supported the Advisory Council of Faculty Senates’ plea for other universities to pull back from similar partnerships.

Gerard Solis from USF’s office of General Counsel noted that the UP has yet to be accepted into the program, but emphasized that mutual aid agreements with federal entities like ICE are not uncommon in the realm of law enforcement.

Building Bridges or Burning Them?

The faculty’s concerns extend beyond logistics; many worry about the potential for the agreement to erode trust between students and campus police. This betrayal of trust could lead to a reluctance among students to report crimes or access essential services for fear that their immigration status could be questioned.

Philosophy professor Richard Manning called attention to the idea that allowing campus police to enforce immigration laws may not only be non-standard practice but could also have broader implications that necessitate intervention before the program can move forward.

Critics of the agreement have raised eyebrows at its implementation without sufficient consultation with faculty and students beforehand. The United Faculty of Florida has frequently criticized the lack of transparency and the perception that the agreement is an example of overreach.

Impact on Research and Activism

Concerns don’t stop at student safety; Professor Brad Rosenheim pointed out that the atmosphere of anxiety surrounding immigration enforcement could stifle research productivity across the university. Moreover, Edelyn Verona mentioned that ongoing discussions among faculty members would continue to hold the administration accountable for its decisions regarding the agreement.

The Political Landscape

The move to enter into the agreement was spurred by a directive from Governor Ron DeSantis, encouraging state law enforcement agencies to engage in immigration enforcement programs. Although UP has earmarked three officers from a pool of 80 for training associated with the program, some faculty feel this lends an unnerving tone to campus life.

A Shadow Over Free Expression

Legal experts warn that the implications reach far beyond policing; the enforcement of immigration laws on campus could stifle free speech and deter political activism among students. This could modify the collegiate atmosphere that USF prides itself on, leading to an environment where students hesitate to express themselves.

As discussions and debates continue to unfold, the university community remains on alert about the potential consequences of this agreement. With about 13% of USF’s over 47,000 students identifying as international, it’s clear that the impact of these policies is far-reaching. Whether the university will heed its faculty’s call to withdraw from the agreement remains to be seen.

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Additional Resources

• USF Oracle: USF Police Plan to Participate in Immigration Enforcement Program
• CNN: Florida Universities ICE Immigration Crackdown
• Inside Higher Ed: At Least 10 Florida Universities Have Signed ICE Agreements
• CBS News: Florida Universities Partnering with ICE for Immigration Enforcement
• AP News: Florida University Police and Federal Immigration Enforcement