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Chief safety officer says ICE told him officers are directed not to enforce on campus
Summary
Pete Spires, the university’s chief safety officer, told trustees he had spoken to regional ICE officials who said they direct officers not to carry out enforcement operations on K‑12 or higher‑education campuses and that ICE would notify campus leadership in advance of any change.
Trustees discussed student demands for explicit protections from immigration enforcement during the public portion of the meeting. The chair said the board takes student concerns seriously and will revisit student safety, immigration enforcement and the university’s responsibilities. The administration agreed to meet with student representatives.
Pete Spires, introduced as chief safety officer and director of public safety, told trustees he had directly contacted regional ICE leadership and reported that the regional director had advised officers not to conduct enforcement on K‑12 or higher‑education campuses and that ICE would contact campus public safety in advance if that guidance changed. “He advised me that, they direct their officers to not do enforcement on schools that's k through 12 as well as higher ed,” Spires said. Spires added that in his experience he has not been surprised by enforcement actions when an advance notice had been given and that he would not support local participation in federal programs that deputize local law enforcement for immigration enforcement.
Trustees and administrators emphasized communication, student support services and that student safety remains a priority. The board asked administration to follow up with students and provide updates to trustees on meetings and any policy clarifications.
