ICE on Campus: ACLU Official Advises Faculty on How to Protect Students

Sounds of laughter echoed through the room as ACLU’s Emilio de Torre lightened the tone of conversation before delving into topics surrounding Immigration at the “ICE on Campus: Know Your Rights event.” The first point Torre made during the event was advising everyone to remain silent during an ICE encounter. 

“The most important thing you can do is to remain quiet,” Torre said. “ICE will try to lie and trick you into signing papers, don’t comply.” 

The American Civil Liberties Union is a non-profit and non-partisan organization that aims to protect the rights and liberties of individuals that are protected through the constitution. As the Director of Community Engagement for ACLU, Torre works in social justice issues involving immigration, public education, and criminal justice.  

During the event, Torre presented a variety of topics from how to distinguish real warrants from fake ones, and what to do during an ICE encounter. 

“If ICE knocks on your door, you do not have to answer unless they have a warrant,” Torre said.” If the warrant is valid, make it should say honorable.” 

Around 30 people, consisting of mostly faculty and a few students, attended the event at Enderis Hall, room 107.  Faculty and students were educated on their rights in and outside the classroom. The event was organized by Cultures and Communities.

Torre advised faculty at UWM to define public and private spaces in the classroom; in case, of an ICE raid, professors could rush students in their offices. 

“It is very important that Faculty define and establish where private spaces and let their students know because this is where students can go if ICE appeared,” said Torre. 

Faculty who attended the event wanted to learn more on how to protect their students in the event of ICE showing up in the classroom. Lane Hall, professor in UWM’s English Department, was present at the event.      

“In my lifetime, I never imagined living in the current political climate that is currently happening where members of government would defend actions of white supremacy,” said Hall. 

There have been controversies surrounding UWM’s earlier decision to not become an official Sanctuary campus. Chancellor Mark Mone released a letter addressing this issue back in 2016. 

“There is no standard definition of what it means to be a ‘sanctuary campus,’” Mone stated. “In a formal or technical sense, this term is often used to signify that a university will limit cooperation with the federal government on immigration enforcement matters. To the extent this means a refusal to follow the law, I do not have authority to declare the campus a ‘sanctuary.’” 

Young People Resistance Committee is an organization on campus that is known for their immigration and human rights advocacy through political activism and direct action. Omar Flores is a member of YPRC and was present at the event. 

“I am here to learn more about what can be done to help protect the undocumented students that I work with who feel unstable and sometimes contemplate dropping out due to their status,” said Flores. 

A task force was appointed by Mone a few years ago, which consisted of faculty and YPRC as way to create a dialogue for immigration and policies that would ensure undocumented students felt safe and protected on campus. Aimee Lopez, senior, is majoring in Social Work at UWM and is the chairperson of YPRC. 

“The task force consisted of a few key faculty/administrative people who were there to help us accomplish our demands,” said Lopez. “Of course, they had the university’s best interests in mind, and we did not get very far with it.” 

Alberto Jose Maldonado, director of the Roberto Hernandez Center, has been working with UWM for years in providing resources for undocumented students on campus. He was appointed to the task force. 

“UWM has all of the elements of a sanctuary campus, but, for some reason, there is some hesitancy in being officially labeled as one,” said Hernandez. 

Despite UWM not being an official sanctuary campus there are various supportive resources for undocumented and DACA students. Through the Roberto Hernandez Center, students  can  receive services such as monthly advice from an immigration lawyer. 

“More can be done, although we don’t have all the resources as a sanctuary campus. The task force has created opportunities for our undocumented students and we won’t stop fighting for that,” said Hernandez. 

During the event, Torre encouraged the use of social media to video record and get loud if you were being unlawfully detained by ICE. 

“It is better to be embarrassed for 10 years than to be incarcerated for 10 years,” said Torre. 

Students like Lulu Sanchez, senior majoring in Latin American and Caribbean studies spoke about the adversities that undocumented students face in today’s political climate. 

“UWM students who are able to get FASA and other resources that are available to students who have citizenship take it for granted,” said Sanchez.