Student activists at the University of Maryland are demanding the school sever all ties with federal immigration enforcement, calling for a “sanctuary campus” designation. A coalition of left-wing groups led by the university’s Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) is pushing a petition that seeks to bar U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from campus grounds and stop all university cooperation with immigration authorities.
The petition outlines several demands: a public commitment to non-cooperation with ICE, restoration of a previously removed Immigrant and Undocumented Student Life Office website, and immediate community alerts whenever ICE is on campus. The push follows the university’s response to a congressional inquiry regarding Chinese student enrollment and the quiet rebranding of its diversity office.
Supporting organizations include UMD Students for Justice in Palestine, UMD College Democrats, Indigenous at UMD, and United Academics of Maryland. The coalition claims the university’s actions have chilled immigrant student engagement and created a hostile environment. They are pressing for policy changes regardless of potential legal or financial repercussions.
Nick Cosgrove of YDSA stated the goal is to ensure students feel protected from what he called an “unjust system.” Professor Jade Olson from United Academics of Maryland argued that fear of enforcement undermines classroom learning and called the sanctuary designation “morally and practically” essential.
The petition concedes that the university could face loss of federal grants and the potential for increased federal presence on campus if it complies. Federal law requires institutions to cooperate with enforcement requests in certain circumstances, creating a legal challenge for schools that adopt sanctuary policies.
The move raises broader questions about university governance, the role of political activism in campus administration, and compliance with federal law. As similar efforts spread across the country, university leaders face pressure to choose between ideological demands and their legal obligations.
