Texas A&M's ICE Reporting Email Ignites Controversy
On July 17 at 12:38 pm, Provost and Executive Vice President Alan Sams sent an email to Texas A&M faculty, staff, and graduate students titled 'Correcting Misinformation Regarding Immigration Enforcement Activity.'
Hours after Sams sent this email, it was widely reported on social media.
Sams wrote that he was sending this communication to 'address concerns related to immigration enforcement and the university,' and that 'your safety, well-being and privacy are of the utmost importance.'
In the email, Sams warned faculty, staff, and graduate students against 'sharing partial or inaccurate information about individual situations.'
Sams provided a list of five points for readers. These include a reminder that TAMU 'does not proactively share information with immigration' outside of the law or a court order, and that support and resources are available on campus for international students, staff, and faculty. Sams also asked that faculty, staff, and graduate students 'immediately contact' university police if they 'encounter a federal law enforcement officer on campus' or 'see something suspicious,' which has sparked criticism on social media.
He promised to distribute 'guidance' detailing 'how to handle interactions with federal law enforcement, including immigration enforcement, if they come on university property.'
Sams' recent email differs in tone from earlier communications to faculty, staff, and graduate students.
On June 6, after Texas agreed to end in-state tuition for illegal alien students, Sams wrote that 'we are working with The Texas A&M University System' as it worked with all its subsidiaries 'to gather information needed to develop an appropriate plan to implement the requirements' regarding tuition for 'undocumented students.'
On June 4, the Trump administration's Department of Justice sued Texas for providing in-state tuition to illegal aliens. In coordination with Attorney General Ken Paxton, just hours later that same day, the state settled and ended the discounted tuition for illegals.
More state-level action followed.
In a letter to colleges and universities later that month, Wynn Rosser, commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, stated that illegal alien students in Texas will need to pay out-of-state tuition by the fall semester. Rosser wrote that colleges and universities 'must assess the population of students who have established eligibility for Texas resident tuition … who are not lawfully present and will therefore need to be reclassified as non-residents and charged non-resident tuition.'
The above actions reportedly triggered fear within some sectors at Texas A&M.
In the June 6 email, Sams addressed President Trump's June 4 proclamation banning entry to America for citizens from 12 nations and elevated visa restrictions for another seven. 'We are ensuring international scholars and students are aware and have access to accurate information,' Sams wrote.
On July 11, Sams wrote a follow-up on the situation. He stated that based on 'guidance' from the Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas A&M University System, 'we are fully implementing the requirements of the court's order for students beginning this fall.'
He added that TAMU was 'in direct contact' with 'potentially affected students' who need to confirm if they're eligible for in-state tuition or must pay the non-resident rate.
Texas Scorecard received these communications from an internal source.
Public criticism of TAMU by state officials followed the exposure of the July 17 email.
'Why the hell is @tamu encouraging students to report ICE agents to the police… and treating 'gender identity' as if Biden's Title IX rule was still in effect!?!' posted State Rep. Brian Harrison (R–Midlothian). 'Texas A&M has been led by progressive leftists for too long, and my office will be demanding answers.'
'It's dangerous and inexcusable that university leaders are encouraging faculty and students to report ICE agents instead of criminals,' posted Republican Texas Railroad Commissioner and candidate for State Comptroller Christi Craddick. 'If ICE is on campus, I'm assuming they are there to enforce the law and stop threats to public safety. Sadly, many of the victims of criminal illegal aliens have been young people. I want our college & university campuses and all our communities to be safe.'
Others on social media expressed similar thoughts.
'Whoever is running Texas A&M now needs to be fired. Promoting stupid and perverse stuff is not our heritage,' posted Russel Brown on X.
'My husband and I are both alumni of Texas A&M. We actually met in College Station. My father, my sister, and my brother all attended A&M too,' posted user @JennyPsalms121 on X. 'My son is a senior in high school this year. He is graduating with honors. He will not be going to A&M as it's not the same school as we attended.'
Texas A&M did not respond to Texas Scorecard's request for comment before publication.
Glenn Hegar, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System—which oversees all A&M campuses—released a statement emphasizing that university police will always cooperate with federal, state, and local law enforcement.
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