Minnesota State board unanimously affirms that ICE activity has no place on campuses

Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to affirm a statement that recent federal immigration enforcement activity has no place on system campuses, saying the operations disrupted students, employees and campus life.

The motion, introduced by Trustee Jackie Johnson and seconded during the Committee of the Whole, followed a morning of presentations from Chancellor Olsen and General Counsel Scott Goings on system responses and legal considerations. Chair Soule opened the meeting by saying the activity had caused “massive disruption” to campuses and called for the system to act for the benefit of students and employees.

General Counsel Scott Goings told trustees Minnesota State began preparing for increased enforcement more than a year earlier, producing resource guides, FAQs and protocols for data privacy and lawful process. Goings also described coordination with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office on litigation matters, including potential amicus participation in a case seeking reinstatement of a ‘sensitive locations’ policy.

Chancellor Olsen and campus presidents described heightened student fear and concrete impacts on access and learning. A president from Saint Paul College reported sharp increases in basic‑needs demand—its pantry distributed 10,604 pounds of food across 616 visits in January, a 52% rise from January 2025—and said more students are asking for evening classes or online participation as safety and transportation patterns change.

Student leaders from LeadMN and Students United told trustees that system guidance and campus FAQs were not reaching many students and urged the board and system office to deliver direct, proactive communications, expand emergency grants and include students in tabletop preparedness exercises. “Students are feeling overwhelmed and alone,” Students United said in testimony, asking the board to be “visible and loud” in defending student rights.

Trustees discussed formalizing a board statement and regular briefings. Trustee Jackie Johnson moved to affirm the chair’s remarks; after a friendly amendment to reference constitutional as well as First Amendment rights, the board adopted the statement on a roll‑call vote. The Board instructed the chancellor’s office to work with campus leaders to improve direct messaging to students and to explore student participation in emergency planning exercises.

The vote was unanimous. The board and system leaders said they will continue campus‑centered supports, expand counseling and emergency resources, and keep trustees regularly informed as conditions evolve.