Make the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities a Sanctuary Campus

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Make the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities a Sanctuary Campus

Rebecca Cunningham

Dr. Rebecca Cunningham, who became the 18th President of the University of Minnesota on July 1, 2024, via her decision not to sign the Presidents’ Alliance for Higher Education and Immigration (until put under sufficient pressure), and to sidestep a direct commitment that UMPD would not comply with ICE unless presented with a legitimate search warrant. This decision puts undocumented and non-citizen students on campus at risk. This move breaks away from her predecessors, as former interim president Ettinger signed onto the Presidents’ alliance, and the president prior, Joan Gabel, joined other universities across the nation in signing an Amicus Curiae brief in a lawsuit against ICE restrictions.

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, both cities with sanctuary-type protections. Yet, students lose these protections when they attend the University, putting already marginalized students in the position to decide between their education and safety. As of April 1st, 2025 one University of Minnesota Grad student, Doğukan Günaydın, an international student and legal resident, has been detained by ICE. As Trump continues to escalate the deportation campaign, likely, he will not be the last.

We ask you to stand up to Cunningham and stand with us in our demands to protect all students at the University of Minnesota, regardless of country of origin or immigration status.

Sponsored by

YDSA at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN

To: Rebecca Cunningham
From: [Your Name]

Our Demands:
1. Restore the now-defunct Immigration Response Team;
2. Directly state that UMPD will not comply with ICE unless presented with a legitimate search warrant;
3. Put out a statement announcing her signing of the Presidents’ Alliance for Higher Education and Immigration and denouncing the Trump Administration’s move to ramp up ICE quotas and deport international students;
4. Commit to training campus staff and community members to uphold the sanctuary policies;
5. Fully fund Student Legal Services and International Student and Scholar Services to provide resources to international students;
6. Call for the release of all University of Minnesota students detained by ICE.