MINNEAPOLIS — The killings of U.S. citizens by federal ICE agents in Minneapolis have fueled protests across the city, prompting increased security on college campuses in the area.
The Minneapolis College of Art and Design, which is located a block and a half from where ICU nurse Alex Pretti was killed by ICE agents Saturday, issued a shelter-in-place for 11 hours as protesters gathered in response, Inside Higher Ed reports.
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“We could hear the flashbangs because they were right outside,” said Annie Gillette Cleveland, the school’s vice president of external relations. “We immediately put together a shelter-in-place for our students on campus because there were protests erupting and ICE agents everywhere and tear gas and flashbangs. At one point, there were fires being built in the street in trash cans.”
City officials and the Minnesota National Guard set up a temporary perimeter around the campus’ neighborhood in response. The school canceled classes for the rest of the week and will switch to remote learning for the following two weeks. All buildings on campus will also be closed to the public and locked to those who don’t have badge access, said Gillette Cleveland.
St. Mary’s University of Minnesota Postpones Grad School Commencement
Set for Saturday, St. Mary’s University of Minnesota postponed its graduate school commencement until May. The Minneapolis campus also switched its graduate programs to remote learning and will reassess on a weekly basis, said Andy Dirksen, the school’s chief operating officer.
The school is also offering security escorts to those who request them, and students and employees “have been provided guidance on what to do if approached by federal agents,” said Dirksen.
Macalester College Enhances Access Control Amid Minneapolis Protests
As students returned to campus last week, Macalester College president Suzanne Rivera wrote in a statement that the Saint Paul school “arranged for campus vans to pick up returning students at MSP [Airport] to avoid the risk of contact with federal agents in the rideshare lot.”
“Although we are not unilaterally flipping to remote learning (to avoid the risk of invalidating the visas of our international students), we have encouraged faculty to provide flexibility when possible and we encourage students to check in with their faculty about plans for the first week of classes,” she continued.
The school has also expanded 24/7 card access to all buildings.
University of Minnesota Says it Doesn’t Enforce Federal Immigration Laws
Students at the University of Minnesota were met with increased security as classes resumed Tuesday for the spring semester, CBS reports. While some spaces will remain open to the public, nearly all buildings will require card access. Students will also have the option to attend some classes virtually.
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The university’s Student Legal Services is offering legal counseling to immigrant students and encourages noncitizen students to always carry their immigration documents.
“Campus departments of public safety, including UMPD, do not enforce federal immigration laws and our officers do not inquire about an individual’s immigration status,” university leaders wrote in recent guidance.
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System Chancellor Addresses Employees
Scott Olson, chancellor for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, which includes 26 colleges and seven universities, wrote to all employees urging them to “to give each other, and our students, grace” and to “remain committed to treating one another with kindness and respect.”
“Many of our students and colleagues are stressed, afraid, tired, sad, and angry,” he continued. “Tensions are high, making it challenging to have collegial conversations with those who see this moment differently from ourselves.”
