Controversy at ASU: Student Group's Call to Report Peers to ICE Sparks Outrage
A firestorm of controversy erupted at Arizona State University (ASU) following an event organized by College Republicans United, an officially recognized student group on campus. The group's call to report fellow students to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ignited widespread condemnation and protests, raising concerns about student safety and the university's commitment to inclusivity.
The Spark: A Call for Immigration Enforcement
College Republicans United, known for its "America First" ideology and opposition to immigration and multiculturalism, scheduled an event encouraging students to report their peers to ICE. The announcement, disseminated via social media, was met with immediate and fierce backlash.
Swift Condemnation and Advocacy
The call to action triggered strong reactions from advocacy groups, legal professionals, and even the Arizona Attorney General. Kris Mayes, the Arizona Attorney General, voiced her support for students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, often referred to as "Dreamers," emphasizing that every student deserves to feel safe on campus. Mayes stated on X that her office would stand by students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status, who are often known as "Dreamers" or DACA recipients. "It's appalling to see this division and hatred in our community. Dreamers in Arizona, know that I will never stop fighting to protect you.”
Aliento at ASU, an immigrant advocacy group based on the university's campus, published an open letter urging university officials to safeguard students. The group's requests included preventing ICE officials from entering campus without a warrant, ensuring student clubs adhere to school policies, and protecting students from targeting and harassment, regardless of their immigration status.
Emily Sotelo, an ASU student and co-chair of Aliento at ASU, expressed her heartbreak and frustration, highlighting the difficulty of focusing on schoolwork when classmates are "calling the people you love the most criminals." Sotelo's organization has been working to provide a space for students from mixed-status families - referring to families including people with different immigration statuses. That has included gardening and other crafts in an effort to strengthen connections within the immigrant community and offer support in the midst of Trump's return to office. She affirmed, "They will never be alone, as long as we stick together."
Read also: Arizona Education System
Student Government Response
The Undergraduate Student Government of ASU's Tempe campus acknowledged the emotional and mental toll the situation has taken on students, who now feel unwelcome or even threatened in their learning environment. The statement went on to call on ASU's leadership to address students' concerns on safety and campus climate.
Protests and Counter-Demonstrations
The College Republicans United event was met with significant opposition, as hundreds of people protested by marching in a circle around them and led chants in support of the immigrant community. Aliento, the advocacy organization that provides resources to immigrants and their families, drew students and other community members looking to protect them. The group estimated more than 1,000 people attended.
University's Stance on Free Speech
In a statement released two days after the event was announced, ASU expressed its disagreement with the event but affirmed its commitment to protecting free speech. The university emphasized that its dean of students and the school's police department were available to help any students who were threatened or harassed.
The university stated, “Encouraging ASU students to make indiscriminate complaints to law enforcement about fellow students is not in keeping with the principles which underlie our academic community. We are here to teach and learn - not to engage in self-aggrandizing conduct meant solely to generate as much media attention and controversy as possible. But we must also recognize that we live in a country that protects individual free speech, even speech that is hurtful.”
College Republicans United: Ideology and Controversy
College Republicans United has several chapters across the country and pushes for “America First” ideology. The group opposes immigration and multiculturalism. Isaiah Alvarado, the president of the ASU chapter of College Republicans United, did note Trump's early action on immigration and his unprecedented attempt to end birthright citizenship, which was temporarily blocked by a federal judge. But Alvarado said it hasn't been enough. "America is America," he said. "We don't want America to be India, China, Mexico. We don't want it to be Russia. Local Republican politicians distanced themselves from the group after it planned a 2023 event to host Nick Fuentes, a white supremacist commentator.
Read also: Sun Devil Cheerleading
ASU's Broader Commitment to Inclusivity
The Chicano/ Latino Law Student Association at ASU also committed to protecting the "Dreamer" community at ASU, noting the Arizona Board of Regent's student code of conduct. One of the policies prohibits "engaging in discriminatory activities, including harassment and retaliation."
The group also pointed to ASU's guiding charter, which says the university is "measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed."
The Impact on International Students and Athletes
The controversy surrounding the College Republicans United event has heightened anxieties among international students and athletes at ASU. Approximately 14% of ASU athletes are international students. Arizona State is a haven for athletes from all over the world. Many of ASU’s foreign athletes share this mindset: School and competition come first. “We can’t do anything about it,” Kuduro said.
For many, the focus remains on their education and athletic pursuits. “I came here to golf and get an education,” said Fifa Laopakdee, a Thai athlete on the men’s golf team. “Due to what is going on, it’s hard to focus solely on tennis,” Bondasz said. “You are only in control of what you came here to do, and for me, that is to play tennis.
However, the political climate and immigration enforcement efforts weigh heavily on their minds. “It affects me and some of my teammates. That goes without saying,” Laopakdee said. “They’re my brothers. “It definitely is in the back of your mind, whether you want it there or not,” distance runner Evaline Chepkoech said.
Read also: Understanding ASU Tuition
The university administration and legal professionals have offered assurances of support. “We currently do not have any issues with keeping our international athletes here,” Rossini said. “We are proud of our student body on and off the field here in Tempe,” Rossini said. “We are prepared to defend athletes if it gets to that point,” Hall said.
Concerns about Travel Restrictions
Some international students also face anxieties related to potential travel restrictions. “It’s hard because my country is rumored to be added to the travel ban list,” said ASU cross country runner Taiwo Mary Kuduro, who is from Nigeria. Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen are on the travel ban list.
The Broader Context: Immigration Enforcement and Deportation
The events at ASU occur within a broader context of increased immigration enforcement efforts. Immigration and Custom Enforcement raids are frequently in the news. In June, Emerson Colindres, a 19-year-old club soccer standout with dreams of playing collegiately, was detained by ICE and then deported to Honduras, which his family left more than a decade ago to escape violence.
tags: #arizona #state #university #student #group #encourages
