Eugene, OR – Over one hundred student protesters and supporters gathered on the University of Oregon (UO) campus Friday afternoon, urging the university administration to take more proactive measures to protect international students.
The rally saw participation from various student organizations, including the University of Oregon chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation.
Speakers at the demonstration highlighted specific actions they are demanding from the university. Their list of demands includes a commitment from the university to protect students if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents visit campus, to delete video recordings of students taken during protests, and a pledge not to charge student protesters with code of conduct violations.
Protesters also urged attendees to sign a petition that includes an “Emergency ICE Contact List.” This directly relates to another demand for the university to utilize the UOAlert system, which typically warns students of on-campus or nearby criminal activity, to also alert students to confirmed ICE activity on campus.
The demonstration took place outside the University of Oregon’s main administration building, with participants chanting slogans advocating for the safety and rights of international students.
Diego Duarte, a UO student and one of the rally organizers, emphasized the timeliness of these demands in light of the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies. “We are demanding concrete local changes from the university,” Duarte stated. “The university responds to student, faculty, and staff outcry and pressure. That is happening right now.”
According to university officials, at least four University of Oregon students have reportedly had their student visas revoked for unspecified reasons.
Meanwhile, a federal immigration judge in Louisiana ruled Friday to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and one of the initial students detained by ICE following participation in campus protests at Columbia University. Khalil was a legal permanent resident. This case has further amplified concerns regarding the appropriateness of immigration enforcement on university campuses and the implications for students’ participation in protests.
The protest by University of Oregon students underscores the growing anxiety among international students on campuses and highlights the increasing calls for universities to take a more active role in safeguarding their international student populations. Students hope their demands will be met, creating a more secure environment for international students to focus on their academic pursuits.
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