Southern Illinois University System President Randy Dunn Jan. 6 announced that none of SIU’s three locations will be designated a sanctuary campus.

The decision affects SIU-Edwardsville, SIU-Carbondale, and the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.

However, Dunn, SIU-E Chancellor Randy Pembrook, and SIU-C Interim Chancellor Brad Colwell have all joined a group of nearly 600 university leaders across the nation who have signed a letter calling for the continuation of federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

The statement assures university resources will be available to SIU students who are in the U.S. under that DACA initiative.

According to published reports at least eight colleges and universities around the nation have adopted the designation of sanctuary campus: Portland State University, Reed College,  Pitzer College, Santa Fe Community College,  University of Pennsylvania, Connecticut College, Drake, Swarthmore College. Numerous other have reportedly been considering the designation since Donald Trump’s Nov. 8 election victory.

Trump has indicated he intends to act aggressively to curb illegal immigration and suggested he will end the DACA program, implemented by President Barack Obama in 2012.  Under that program, federal officials are not to deport undocumented individuals meeting specified conditions — notable individuals brought to the U.S. at an early age.

In most case, self-declared sanctuary campuses have adopted policies banning staff from taking any steps not required under federal or state law to facilitate the identification or deportation of undocumented foreign-born students.

The Portland State University policy bar staff from assisting in deportation efforts “unless legally compelled to do so or in the event of clear exigent circumstances. “Reed will not assist … absent a direct court order,” the Reed College policy stipulates. Wesleyan University “will not voluntarily assist” deportation efforts, under state’s university’s policy.

SIU Carbondale’s Undergraduate Student Government and Graduate and Professional Student Council sent a letter to Dunn and Interim Chancellor Brad Colwell in December requesting the sanctuary campus declaration to protect undocumented students.

SIU-E Chancellor Randy Pembrook is among academic leaders signing a statement in support of the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. (Photo courtesy of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville)

At that time, Dunn indicated that campus chancellors and other officials and staff would review potential policy and legal considerations, noting also that any decision would apply not only to SIU-C but the university’s Edwardsville and Springfield campuses.

However, in a statement last week, university expressed several concerns regarding the adopting of a sanctuary campus designation.

The concept of a “sanctuary campus” has not yet been clearly defined in law, university officials noted.

It could be interpreted as suggesting that the university would be willing to violate federal law, they add.

“Doing so would put SIU and all of its students at risk,” the university officials continued.

Violation of federal law could mean not only the loss not only federal funding to the university but federal financial aid to SIU students, the university officials noted.

“At the same time, there are key principles that we believe are important during this uncertain period,” Dunn said in the university statement. “We will continue to do everything we can within the scope of established law to support our students. And we take our responsibility to protect student privacy under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) very seriously. SIU is committed to an inclusive, welcoming environment in which all of our students can continue progress toward their degrees and graduate on time.”

Under the statement signed by Dunn, Pembrook and Colwell, last month, DACA students and other international students who need assistance are invited to contact the SIU Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA) office at (618) 650-2020.

“SIUE is committed to maintaining a safe, secure and inclusive campus environment for all students, faculty and staff. Should the need arise to report behavior inconsistent with SIUE’s campus culture, individuals can also reach out directly to the VCSA office, faculty and staff,” Dunn said.

— SIU will not adopt sanctuary campus designation —