When students at Florida State University noticed unfamiliar figures in tactical vests walking through campus, the initial reaction was confusion.
As word spread that the individuals were agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), that confusion turned into concern.
Reports on ICE officers spotted near FSU classrooms last week have raised alarms among students, faculty, and advocacy groups, particularly as the agency rolls out new immigration enforcement plans targeting undocumented individuals.
While the full extent of ICE’s activities on campus remains unclear, the sighting has fueled debate over immigration policies and its impact on academic institutions.
The unexpected presence of ICE on campus created unease, for students like Samantha Bruner, who says she first heard about the agents through a classmate.
“I was going to class when someone told me ICE was on campus,” Bruner said. She didn’t know if this was true until she saw the agents on campus for herself. “This is a nightmare,” Bruner said.
Other students took to social media to share warnings and express frustration over what they see as a growing climate of fear for immigrants in Florida. Some claimed to have seen ICE near residence halls, while others noted that no formal campus alerts were issued.
Despite student reports, FSU officials say the university was not formally notified of ICE operations on campus. Amy Farnum-Patronis, FSU’s director of communications, stated in the FSUNews that the school has not received confirmation of any ICE activity.
ICE’s presence at FSU comes as a result of heightened immigration enforcement efforts nationwide. Florida, in particular, has become a hotspot for immigration policy debates, with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ strict immigration policies and compliance with ICE.
Student advocacy groups, like ProColombia FSU and the Hispanic/Latinx Student Union, have pledged to continue educating students about their rights.
“I feel like educating our communities on their rights is crucial, especially in times like these where it feels like our rights are being stripped away,” PorColumbia FSU co-president, Gabriel Seda said.
Educators across the United States are increasingly concerned about the impact of ICE activities on their students and learning environments. In response, some teachers are implementing strategies to protect and support their students.
In New York City, The United Federation of Teachers has been coaching educators on methods to help migrant children and families avoid encounters with ICE. The guidance includes distributing “red cards” that detail an individual’s constitutional rights when confronted by ICE officers.
A proposal approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Education, saying that parents will need to provide proof of their child’s citizenship, has sparked significant concern among educators and parents.
Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval worries that such policies will instill fear among immigrant families and discourage them from enrolling their children in school.
“The conversations I’ve had with parents, all they’re doing is trying to provide the best opportunity for their kids, like any parents. They are starting to question: Do I unenroll my child from school,” said Rep. Alonso-Sandoval
As debates over immigration policies intensify, the question of whether or not universities will take a stronger stance in protecting students, or will ICE’s presence become a new and unsettling reality on campuses across the country.