Over the past month, the Trump administration has implemented several policies that target undocumented immigrants. One such policy, issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, “rescinded protections for ‘sensitive areas,’ like churches, hospitals, schools and college campuses, where immigration enforcement actions previously couldn’t take place.”
In an email to the Case Western Reserve University community on Feb. 5, CWRU President Eric Kaler acknowledged the effects of these policies on members of the university while noting that the university “will navigate these times and stay true to our values while also complying with the law.” The email provided links to several resources for international students, regardless of immigration status, including the VISA Office and University Counseling Services.
Kaler advised that if met with an outside agency requesting personal information, students, faculty and staff should direct them to CWRU Public Safety or the CWRU Office of General Counsel. Additionally, Kaler said that the university will abide by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). He wrote, “The university will not release student data to anyone without a judicial subpoena.”
On Feb. 5, La Alianza—a student organization that serves Latinx and Hispanic students—shared a statement on Instagram condemning national immigration raids and expressing a dedication to providing a safe space for international students and families affected by the Trump administration’s policies.
“We know that the policies being carried out by the Trump administration are solely harmful, not only towards the countless families that are being torn apart, or hard working people that have worked against odds to establish themselves in the US, but also towards the US economy; something that is supposedly important to the president,” La Alianza said. They also expressed a desire for more explicit protections from the university administration. “It is disappointing for the admin to keep using ‘comply with the law’ as a scapegoat to avoid doing more for students,” they said. “We would hope that undocumented students would be supported by the campus administration by providing them protections, as they are students seeking an education.”
Speaking directly to students affected by national policy changes under the Trump administration, La Alianza’s executive board emphasized the importance of relying on student organizations, friends and loved ones. “With recent national policies that go beyond immigration status that attack a person’s identity such as anti-trans rulings, having these occur while also maintaining a healthy college lifestyle is difficult,” they said. “With these identities under scrutiny by the Trump administration, we want to cultivate a space you feel comfortable to talk to and have a place where you do not feel like a target, but just to be a student again.”
La Alianza is planning to hold an informational session on policy changes for members of the Cleveland community in collaboration with Cleveland State University, Kent State University and The University of Akron. Additionally, La Alianza will provide a folder of resources for international students through their mailing list. La Alianza’s executive board also noted their commitment to promoting campus resources like CWRU’s BIPOC+ Support Space and other student organizations with social justice initiatives.
Another CWRU student, who requested to remain anonymous, conveyed her support for the undocumented community: “You are accepted, valued and loved. As long as you hold hope for change, whether or not you can act on it, that hope is already stronger than their fear.” She also expressed her frustration with how university administration has handled communication and support for undocumented students on campus. “The fact that the university took so long to say something about the ICE raids considering they are happening in this city, is concerning,” she said. “I am honestly unsure of the support the university offers, or if it offers any, I can only hope that the undocumented students on campus are aware.”
Echoing these CWRU students, Cleveland City Council expressed “opposition to the inhumane separation of working families in [the] region.” In a statement published on Feb. 5, they wrote that “Cleveland City Council is committed to ensuring Cleveland’s residents, visitors, and businesses enjoy safety, freedom, and resources to improve their economic status. The recent, deliberate targeting of Latino residents nationwide—and in our region—is a direct threat to these goals.” The statement also provided several resources for citizens and noncitizens, including Ohio ACLU ‘Know Your Rights’ information and the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s Detained Immigrant Intake Line.