Wesleyan U Declares Itself A Sanctuary Campus For Undocumented Immigrants

The Hartford Courant ^ | Kathleen Megan | 11/23/16 6:00

[drewh]

Following student outcry for protection of undocumented students, Wesleyan University President Michael Roth declared this week that Wesleyan is a sanctuary campus that will not voluntarily assist the federal government in any efforts to deport students or faculty because of their immigration status.

Wesleyan appears to be the only school to publicly call itself a sanctuary campus, though other college administrators have expressed strong support for undocumented and immigrant students and are moving toward creating safe havens for those students,

Roth made the announcement after meeting last week with students, faculty and staff and conferring with the school's trustees.

Roth said that when he first heard the term sanctuary campus, he wasn't "exactly sure what people meant by it, but I was very interested in sending a message both to the campus community and beyond, that the kind of deportation proceedings that were discussed in the Trump campaign phase were anathema to our educational mission."

The model for the sanctuary campus, Roth, are the sanctuary cities like Hartford and New Haven that have declared their intention not to cooperate with federal officials in seeking to deport residents simply because they lack appropriate immigration documentation.

For Wesleyan, Roth said, that means, "We would not cooperate with any efforts to round up people, unless we were forced to."

If immigration officials were to come to campus, Roth said, "We would go to court and say where is the legal authority? We would not just cooperate ... Not that this place is a place to hide, but a place where faculty, students and staff can have their information protected."

Roth said that that through Wesleyan's alumni network, the university is putting together legal resources for members of the school community with questions concerning their immigration status.

[Tzimisce]

When ICE starts it’s crackdown they know where to start.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Good....they can take some of the illegal immigrants frkm my state.

[Flavious_Maximus]

“...Wesleyan is a sanctuary campus that will not voluntarily assist the federal government in any efforts to deport students or FACULTY ...”

Faculty? Does this mean they are hiring illegals to teach students? Is this one of those jobs that American citizens won’t do?

[48th SPS Crusader]

Roth said, “We would go to court and say where is the legal authority?

Duh, the LAW?

[zek157]

Does that mean free tuition for everyone?

[rdcbn]

Another deportation opportunity.

[Brown Deer]

1907. Title 8, U.S.C. 1324(a) Offenses

Harboring -- Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii) makes it an offense for any person who -- knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, conceals harbors, or shields from detection, or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection, such alien in any place, including any building or any means of transportation.

Encouraging/Inducing -- Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv) makes it an offense for any person who -- encourages or induces an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law.

Conspiracy/Aiding or Abetting -- Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(v) expressly makes it an offense to engage in a conspiracy to commit or aid or abet the commission of the foregoing offenses.

Penalties -- With regard to violations of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(ii)-(iv) and (v)(ii), domestic transportation, harboring, encouraging/inducing, or aiding/abetting, the basic statutory maximum term of imprisonment is 5 years. Further enhanced punishment is provided for third or subsequent offenses.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

The military should seize and occupy this criminal harboring campus.

[Dr. Sivana]

Wesleyan is in newly elected State Senator Len Suzio’s district. Trump votes put him over the top. Len is a Tom Scott conservative who might want to make this an issue once his term starts.

[Kellis91789]

Isn’t it private property such that a warrant specific to a person would be needed ? Or is a statement supporting illegal activity enough for a warrant to search the entire campus and question everyone there?

The classic example of a “sanctuary” was a church. It needed to be surrounded and the people starved out. That solution for colleges is fine with me. Shut off all utilities including water. Stop all deliveries. Check everyone as they leave until the campus is empty. Use helicopters with thermal imaging equipment to be sure it is empty. Monitor for a few weeks before letting anyone back in.

[Kellis91789]

Make an announcement that anyone donating to the school will be investigated for aiding and abetting federal fugitives and the IRS will disallow any deductions for endowments.

See how these schools like that. No federal funds. No endowments. Seeing as how they are in TX, Gov Abbot should do his part to stop any state funds.

Remove them from the list of Accredited Colleges, so that none of their graduates will be allowed to take any Licensing Board Exams and any new students will be unable to get student loans. TX and every other state with Republican legislatures and governors should pass laws that state government jobs that require a degree can only consider candidates from accredited colleges.

[HiTech RedNeck]

One cannot simply silly-putty the law and “make announcements.” Not even Donald Trump.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

#3 Professional: 5 minutes? Why wait so long?

Didn’t Hillary go to Wesleyan or was that Wellsley? Ah hell, bomb them both. Nobody will notice the difference and we won’t miss them at all.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

#9. re Maybe they should give the “students” some Plato.

They are spoiled, whiny millenials so don’t you mean ‘PLAYDOUGH’?

[Paladin2]

PlayDough? I thought the kids were embracing the wisdom of Plato with the assistance of the school administrations and faculty to get through their rough times.

[nopardons]

You are correct re the second paragraph.

As to the first query, I'm not certain, but I do believe that when one announces that they are going to commit a crime, that opens them, immediately, to possible arrest.

These people are just nuts and need to 1) grow up and stop acting like babies 2) first learn the laws of this nation prior to spouting off 3) start worrying about the future of the colleges or cities, because of the lost Federal funding coming their way.....soon!

[nopardons]

Oh yooooooooooooooooo hoooooooooo....Wesleyan is NOT in Texas!

Instead of just posting the first thing that pops into you head, it would help you, GREATLY, to read the actual article, make certain that what you are about to post doesn't make you look like a complete fool.

[nopardons]

She went to Wellesley, which is in Mass. and Wesleyan is in Ct.! The latter was founded as an all male college, whilst the former was founded as an all women’s college and still is. Wesleyan is the older school.

[Grampa Dave]

Let the La Raza and Muslim illegal rapists/murders go live at this snowflake safe place.

Then cut any federal tax $’s going to this pos/snowflake haven posing as a university.

[Grampa Dave]

Let the La Raza and Muslim illegal rapists/murders go live at this snowflake safe place.

Then cut any federal tax $’s going to this pos/snowflake haven posing as a university.

Kelsis91789