Petition for the Declaration of University of Cincinnati as a Sanctuary Campus
University of Cincinnati Administration
Petition for the Declaration of University of Cincinnati as a Sanctuary Campus
As it stands, international students are not safe at the University of Cincinnati. During the spring 2025 semester, the University of Cincinnati announced that it would comply with the Trump administration to allow the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to harass and disappear students on campus. These institutions have proven that they do not stand for justice, equal treatment of individuals, or the protection of any American citizen– law-abiding or not. Allowing them to conduct business on our campus poses serious risks for our large body of international students. By extension, no UC student is safe.
On February 21, UC President Neville G. Pinto preemptively declared that UC administration would comply with the demands of Ohio Senate Bill 1, which was signed in March to be effective by June 27. This bill was the result of president Trump’s January executive order that demanded the ban of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin in public facilities. This legislation, along with the more recent One Big Beautiful Bill, has provided the framework for expanding detention and deportation of American immigrants.
ICE has been spotted active around UC’s campuses, including Blue Ash campus over the summer. A number of UC students have already had their visas revoked.
The University of Cincinnati enrolls approximately 5,000 international students who contribute an estimated $160 million annually in tuition revenue as well as $150 million into the local economy.
National delegates from the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) voted this year to enact a priority campaign to demand the establishment of sanctuary campuses– universities that adopt policies to protect members of the campus community– across the country. These policies are usually based in limiting compliance with federal authorities.
Peer institutions such as the University of Michigan have signed public letters of non-compliance with ICE and the Trump Administration, and published guidance resources for students, faculty, and staff. Meanwhile, the University of Cincinnati has only reinforced its willingness to submit to offensive federal policy with its eager declarations of compliance and heavy policing of student activist groups like YDSA and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).
As an institution of higher education, the University of Cincinnati has a responsibility to support and safeguard the education of all its students.
We, the undersigned, therefore demand:
ICE and DHS Off Campus
We demand that the University of Cincinnati refuses, in the name of student safety, the on-campus presence of ICE, DHS, or any other government agency that seeks to gain access to students’ personal information.
Public Declaration of UC as a Sanctuary Campus
We demand that the University issues a statement affirming its allegiance to immigrant students and declaring UC an official sanctuary campus. This statement must be issued through a press conference as well as an email to all students and employees.
Non-compliance Policy With ICE and DHS
We demand that the University does not comply with ICE or DHS officials in the event they request student information or access to campus, unless provided with a complete and relevant judicial warrant.
Non-compliance Training for University Employees
We demand that the university provides mandatory non-compliance training to all public-facing university employees. This training would educate employees on their individual rights, relevant current legislation, the techniques used by ICE and DHS, recognizing valid warrants, etc.
The University of Cincinnati’s administration has demonstrated an eagerness to comply with federal demands for the persecution of its students, evident by its preemptive compliance and welcoming of corrupt federal institutions on campus. This stance is in direct opposition to the interests of the people, as represented by UC’s student paper and by the vote of national organizations such as YDSA, which recognizes the urgent necessity of sanctuary campuses nationwide. The University’s support of SB1 violates its commitment to cultivating a healthy and connected campus culture, and renders its iconic slogan “next lives here” completely meaningless.
Other educational institutions, like the University of Michigan, have benefitted from boldly taking a stand against unethical discrimination on campus. Following its response to the Trump administration’s demands, UMich saw a record-breaking increase in overall student enrollment. UC on the other hand, which has only enforced its readiness to comply with preemptively-issued compliance, has seen a drop in the enrollment of international students by 40%. This will have a considerable impact on the economy of the university and city.
The University has limited time to correct its course of action and support the future of its student body. With no sign that UC administration will argue for the well-being of those it is beholden to, action on behalf of the student body is critical.
This petition was written without the usage of Artificial Intelligence.
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To:
University of Cincinnati Administration
From:
[Your Name]
Petition for the Declaration of University of Cincinnati as a Sanctuary Campus
As it stands, international students are not safe at the University of Cincinnati. During the spring 2025 semester, the University of Cincinnati announced that it would comply with the Trump administration to allow the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to harass and disappear students on campus. These institutions have proven that they do not stand for justice, equal treatment of individuals, or the protection of any American citizen– law-abiding or not. Allowing them to conduct business on our campus poses serious risks for our large body of international students. By extension, no UC student is safe.
On February 21, UC President Neville G. Pinto preemptively declared that UC administration would comply with the demands of Ohio Senate Bill 1, which was signed in March to be effective by June 27. This bill was the result of president Trump’s January executive order that demanded the ban of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin in public facilities. This legislation, along with the more recent One Big Beautiful Bill, has provided the framework for expanding detention and deportation of American immigrants.
ICE has been spotted active around UC’s campuses, including Blue Ash campus over the summer. A number of UC students have already had their visas revoked.
The University of Cincinnati enrolls approximately 5,000 international students who contribute an estimated $160 million annually in tuition revenue as well as $150 million into the local economy.
National delegates from the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) voted this year to enact a priority campaign to demand the establishment of sanctuary campuses– universities that adopt policies to protect members of the campus community– across the country. These policies are usually based in limiting compliance with federal authorities.
Peer institutions such as the University of Michigan have signed public letters of non-compliance with ICE and the Trump Administration, and published guidance resources for students, faculty, and staff. Meanwhile, the University of Cincinnati has only reinforced its willingness to submit to offensive federal policy with its eager declarations of compliance and heavy policing of student activist groups like YDSA and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).
As an institution of higher education, the University of Cincinnati has a responsibility to support and safeguard the education of all its students.
We, the undersigned, therefore demand:
ICE and DHS Off Campus
We demand that the University of Cincinnati refuses, in the name of student safety, the on-campus presence of ICE, DHS, or any other government agency that seeks to gain access to students’ personal information.
Public Declaration of UC as a Sanctuary Campus
We demand that the University issues a statement affirming its allegiance to immigrant students and declaring UC an official sanctuary campus. This statement must be issued through a press conference as well as an email to all students and employees.
Non-compliance Policy With ICE and DHS
We demand that the University does not comply with ICE or DHS officials in the event they request student information or access to campus, unless provided with a complete and relevant judicial warrant.
Non-compliance Training for University Employees
We demand that the university provides mandatory non-compliance training to all public-facing university employees. This training would educate employees on their individual rights, relevant current legislation, the techniques used by ICE and DHS, recognizing valid warrants, etc.
The University of Cincinnati’s administration has demonstrated an eagerness to comply with federal demands for the persecution of its students, evident by its preemptive compliance and welcoming of corrupt federal institutions on campus. This stance is in direct opposition to the interests of the people, as represented by UC’s student paper and by the vote of national organizations such as YDSA, which recognizes the urgent necessity of sanctuary campuses nationwide. The University’s support of SB1 violates its commitment to cultivating a healthy and connected campus culture, and renders its iconic slogan “next lives here” completely meaningless.
Other educational institutions, like the University of Michigan, have benefitted from boldly taking a stand against unethical discrimination on campus. Following its response to the Trump administration’s demands, UMich saw a record-breaking increase in overall student enrollment. UC on the other hand, which has only enforced its readiness to comply with preemptively-issued compliance, has seen a drop in the enrollment of international students by 40%. This will have a considerable impact on the economy of the university and city.
The University has limited time to correct its course of action and support the future of its student body. With no sign that UC administration will argue for the well-being of those it is beholden to, action on behalf of the student body is critical.
This petition was written without the usage of Artificial Intelligence.