WASHINGTON (TNND) — A new Campus Reform investigation found that over 35 colleges and universities have adopted sanctuary campus policies, but some schools in red states have come to the aid of ICE enforcement.
Sanctuary Campuses refuse to cooperate with ICE, blocking agents from campus buildings and limiting the role of campus police in immigration enforcement.
Portland State University in Oregon is named in Campus Reform’s investigation. They maintain their status as a sanctuary campus in a recent statement from the school’s president.
Since 016, PSU has held firm to its status as a Sanctuary Campus. PSU Campus Public Safety Officers do not enforce federal immigration law. We do not consent to or facilitate immigration enforcement actions on campus and we protect the confidentiality of student records as required by law.
Advocates for these policies on campuses say it makes students feel safe from fears that their legal status could prompt an arrest or deportation.
Campus Reform’s investigation underscores a red vs. blue divide in higher education over immigration enforcement. Some schools in red states, however, like those in Florida, are actively partnering with immigration authorities.
State laws and 287(g) agreements allow for campus police to help enforce immigration laws. There are at least 40 states with at least one active 287(g) agreement.
According to the agreement, participating campuses’ law enforcement have three models to choose from when aiding in immigration enforcement:
- The Jail Enforcement Model is designed to identify and process removable aliens — with criminal or pending criminal charges — who are arrested by state or local law enforcement agencies.
- The Task Force Model serves as a force multiplier for law enforcement agencies to enforce limited immigration authority with ICE oversight during their routine police duties.
- The Warrant Service Officer program allows ICE to train, certify and authorize state and local law enforcement officers to serve and execute administrative warrants on aliens in their agency’s jail.
