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CBS News
02-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
FIU students, faculty protest school's partnership with ICE
Florida International University students, faculty, alumni and members of the community gathered on campus Monday morning to protest the partnership between the school and U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement. The agreement, under the 287 (g) program, allows FIU police officers to be trained and authorized to act as ICE agents on campus. It's part of a broader initiative across the state. FIU Police Chief Alexander Casas has said it will help keep students safe. However, those protesting said they fear this will lead to racial profiling and increase fear among students. Partnership under fire from students Last month, at a forum to discuss the proposed partnership, students and alumni spoke out against it. "It's not fair that students have to live in an environment of hostility, fear of racial profiling, that they could be detained at any moment, their visas can be revoked. That's not what FIU is about," said Alex Rubio, an FIU graduate. Casas, who participated in the panel alongside immigration experts and student leaders, emphasized the intent to maintain trust within the campus community. he also he sought to reassure students "Don't be concerned, if you're here legally take care of your stuff, if you're here lawfully you have nothing to be concerned about," he said. Demonstrators hoped to get the Board of Trustees attention The demonstration came ahead of the FIU Board of Trustees meeting in which they will discuss and vote on naming interim President Jeanette Nuñez as the school's 7th president. Nuñez, who received her bachelor's degree and master's degree at FIU, was named interim resident in February. She stepped down as Florida's lieutenant governor to accept the position. If approved by the board, she'll replace Kenneth Jessell who had served as FIU's president since 2022.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
FIU community debates controversial ICE partnership in heated forum
Florida International University students, staff and community members packed a campus forum Wednesday night to voice concerns over a proposed agreement that would allow FIU police to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Concerns over racial profiling and fear on campus The agreement, which is voluntary, would permit FIU police officers to act as ICE agents on campus, a possibility that has drawn sharp criticism from students and immigrant advocacy groups. "It's not fair that students have to live in an environment of hostility, fear of racial profiling, that they could be detained at any moment, their visas can be revoked. That's not what FIU is about," said Alex Rubio, an FIU graduate. "For students who are caught in the trap of a broken immigration system they can very much be vulnerable to detention and deportation simply by coming to school," said Renata Bozzetto of the Florida Immigrant Coalition. Chief Casas defends the move amid uncertainty FIU Police Chief Alexander Casas, who participated in the panel alongside immigration experts and student leaders, emphasized the intent to maintain trust within the campus community. "I wanted to be part of that enforcement when it applies to our FIU community because I interact with the FIU community," Casas said. "We know our students, we know our faculty, we know our staff, we know how we interact with them. They're used to interacting with us in a certain way and I want to maintain that as much as possible." When asked how the program would be implemented on campus, Casas admitted, "That's the million-dollar question because I couldn't tell you right now." Still, he sought to reassure students: "Don't be concerned; if you're here legally take care of your stuff; if you're here lawfully you have nothing to be concerned about." Other universities in Florida have also opted into similar agreements with ICE.
