(The Center Square) — The head of New Hampshire's largest public university system is refusing demands from activists to declare the state college campus a "sanctuary" from the Trump administration's immigration crackdowns.
A group of students affiliated with the Palestine Solidarity Coalition had recently called on University of New Hampshire President Elizabeth Chilton to "do more" to "protect students" from immigration enforcement actions and ensure freedom of expression on campus following the arrests of foreign students at elite colleges across the country.
"Silence and neutrality in the face of injustice is complicity," they wrote in a letter to Chilton. "UNH has a choice to make: defend their students against Trump or be complicit in his crimes."
But Chilton is rejecting the demands, saying while she may "appreciate the intent" of the students' request, the university "cannot interfere with federal law enforcement or decline to comply with a lawful warrant."
"Declaring UNH a sanctuary campus" would not provide additional legal protection and could mislead international students and scholars about UNH's power to intervene in enforcement actions," she wrote. "Additionally, there are other reasons to believe that public declarations such as the ones you are suggesting may inadvertently put members of our community in more jeopardy of being targeted."
In their letter, the UNH students demanded that Chilton "immediately" declare the university's campus a "sanctuary" and refuse to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during crackdowns. They also demanded that the college "end surveillance" of students and set a formal policy to respond to ICE immigration raids.
"Campus security and law enforcement must be prohibited from assisting or facilitating ICE operations," they wrote. "UNH must take a public and unwavering stance against the violation of student rights and ensure its policies reflect that commitment."
Overall, the students said UNH's current protocol "fails to provide any meaningful reassurance" that the university "will take decisive action to protect its students should their rights be threatened."
"The university must move beyond vague, legally cautious statements and instead outline clear, concrete policies that prioritize student safety, due process, and institutional accountability," they wrote.
In January, Trump signed an executive order rescinding a Biden administration policy blocking federal immigration agents from arresting people at places like schools, churches and hospitals.
In recent weeks, colleges have reported an uptick in immigration arrests of students. Some international students returning to the U.S. on visas have reportedly been denied reentry into the country.
In her letter, Chilton called the recent detentions of foreign students on other campuses "deeply troubling" but said the college isn’t in a position to resist cooperation with federal law enforcement. She touted "meaningful and practical" steps to improve safety on campus, including training sessions to educate students, faculty and staff about their rights and responsibilities.
"We will continue to communicate both broadly across campus and directly with our international community to provide support and timely information," Chilton wrote. "I remain committed to doing everything I can to ensure all our students can safely access the education and opportunities that UNH provides."
