Tori DiPasquale
Contributing Writer
A small group of faculty and students met in the CoRE Cube on Feb. 13 for a “Know Your Rights” discussion sponsored by Wooster’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). This discussion came in response to President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders regarding immigration rights.
Since his inauguration, Trump has signed executive orders calling into question many immigrants’ legal status, as well as changing many policies regarding immigration. The discussion was designed to make students, faculty and staff aware of these new policies, explain them and suggest how the College should respond to them.
President of Wooster’s AAUP chapter and professor and department chair of German and Russian studies Mareike Herrmann was joined by Michele Leiby, associate professor of political science, in presenting information to attendees. Herrmann and Leiby provided an overview of Trump’s recent executive orders.
“This is not a lecture, but a time to share information,” Herrmann said. She also cited the AAUP’s purpose, which includes “responding to political attacks on higher education,” as a reason for the discussion.
The conversation mainly centered around the consequences of executive orders and how they could be applied to a college campus — they discussed the concept of providing education to immigrants regardless of their legal status.
According to Herrmann and Leiby, it was difficult to attract students to the event as a result of faculty’s inability to reach out to the student body following the restricted usage of ZWD listservs.
The discussion began with an overview of all of Trump’s major policy changes. Organizers distributed a handout which listed some of the executive orders along with clippings from the orders. Leiby separated the orders into five categories: “On fast tracking immigration proceedings,” “On increasing the number of enforcement agents,” “On increasing detention,” “On locales subject to ICE activity” and “On limiting/punishing immigration justice advocacy.”
Leiby explained that any advice she gave about how to interact with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents was not legal advice. She noted that a separate discussion with immigration and civil rights lawyers will take place on Feb. 27, where Wooster students and faculty can ask questions about recent legislation.
The first policy discussed was previous Trump-era guidance stating that immigration judges must process asylum claims in 180 days of when a person applies. The guidance, vetted by the Executive Office for Immigration Review, reinstated several policy memos that expedite claims and immigration affairs. According to Leiby, this can lead to large groups of asylum seekers having their status ruled upon immediately.
“Legal advocates are concerned this will make judges make perverse and hasty decisions,” Leiby said. There is “no practicality to this system,” she added.
Leiby went on to explain that there will be an increase in ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and arrests, as well as the possibility that law enforcement can now work in tandem with immigration enforcement agencies depending on the state. Florida and Texas have agreed on a deal where local law enforcement may now be trained to detain, transport and deport immigrants. Leiby also explained that the uptick in ICE arrest quotas could have a negative effect overall on the organization’s quality of work.
The discussion moved on to discuss major shifts in where enforcement agents have jurisdiction. Trump rescinded the Protected Areas policy, which aimed to prevent immigration enforcement agents operating in “sensitive areas,” including schools and places of worship. For many of the participants at the Feb. 13 event, this revocation brought up several questions regarding ICE or other enforcement agents’ ability to access different places on campus.
A major point of conversation centered around the difference between “public” and “private” spaces on campus. Leiby stated that ICE and other enforcement agents require a judicial warrant to enter a private space. Leiby posed the question, “What exact areas on campus are considered private and what are considered public?”
Spaces like student housing and faculty offices were brought into question — these spaces have residents, but the College owns the building. Participants were unsure if enforcement agents could enter these spaces without the consent of their residents. A student attendee added their input, saying that they “don’t feel like I have access to privacy,” when on campus. This was a sentiment echoed by some faculty in attendance as well. Leiby claimed that there was no clear answer as the school has no official designations of public and private spaces.
Currently, no colleges or universities are litigating this policy, but several hospitals and religious organizations are. The policy is not yet being enforced, but if supported in court, could go into effect. “Regardless of the outcome of this litigation, enforcement agents can enter any public location on campus,” Leiby clarified.
The group discussed the steps the College should take in response to Trump’s policies. Adding signage designating “public” and “private” spaces is one possible action, said Leiby.
“We need to demand administration to give a promise of protection to everyone who has a private office or space on campus,” she said.
Participants agreed the school should provide a statement about its plans to interact with ICE should they show up on campus. In a Jan. 31 email, secretary of the College Angila Tracey said that community members should “remain calm and, if approached, ask for proper identification, inquire as to the purpose of the visit” and contact her. Leiby also suggested that a list of affordable and dependable immigration lawyers should be provided for those on campus who may need it.
The discussion ended with advice for those engaging with enforcement agents — including not running when ICE is present, practicing asking for a warrant and remembering that not providing your name, date of birth and address is a fourth degree misdemeanor in Ohio. According to Leiby, providing truthful information is important. “The first encounter will be very alarming,” said Leiby, but “practicing a plan so you can be efficient and strong [is extremely important].”
According to Herrmann, immigration issues do not only affect international students, as there are over 500,000 undocumented students on college campuses in the U.S. The College was proactive when Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was repealed, according to Herrmann, but they are remaining relatively silent now. “It is not okay that we are silencing information to people who are most impacted,” Herrmann said.
There will be several AAUP affiliated events this semester, including an event regarding Ohio Senate Bill 104 — which prohibits multi-occupancy gender-neutral bathrooms in schools from kindergarten through university — on Feb. 25 at 12 p.m. in the CoRE. There will also be another AAUP discussion in April regarding academic freedom and demonstrating values on campus, with an official date to be announced.
