Professors, Students Demand College Start Fund for Illegal Immigrants
Amber Randall /
Cornell University students hosted a protest to demand the college provide funds for all illegal immigrant students.
The protest, organized by the Cornell Coalition for Inclusive Democracy, drew about 250 students and faculty members, reports Heat Street.
The protesters want the school to provide special funding for all immigrant students, even those not protected by the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive order.
“Our endangered community members still lack explicit assurance that the institution that took them in will protect them,” professor Russell Rickford said. “That’s shameful.”
The group also wants Cornell to provide on-campus housing and shelter for immigrant students who have been warned from traveling overseas. It wants the college to fight for legislation that protects illegal immigrants.
It also called on the campus police to not release information about illegal immigrant students unless absolutely necessary.
“State explicitly that CUPD will join the Tompkins County Sheriff and Ithaca Police Department in declining to honor civil immigration detainer requests (which is not legally required!) from a federal agent unless accompanied by a judicial warrant,” the demand read.
“No ban. No wall. Sanctuary for all,” protesters chanted, a chorus led by Rickford.
“No more deportations,” he said. “No more raids. No more fear. None of us live with dignity while such atrocities continue.”
Another professor spoke to those gathered, telling them that most people would be fighting against them.
“You will always be in a minority. But, the truth is, we look back on those periods now as periods of grave injustice, where time has turned against what was done. And you don’t need the majority; what you need is a very dedicated, involved minority,” professor Joe Margulies said.
One illegal immigrant student talked about her own struggles to get financial aid.
“I had to sacrifice meals. I had to sacrifice having the right books. I had to do everything to thrive at this school,” Julia Montejo said. “Now that Cornell’s caught up, which is a little late for many people, Cornell is refusing to explicitly state that CUPD will not cooperate with ICE.”
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