Texas A&M University-Kingsville as a Sanctuary Campus

Dear President Tallant,

In the aftermath of the recent presidential election and with the rise in racism and intolerance, we the students, faculty, staff and alumni request you to implement a plan to declare our campus a sanctuary for undocumented students, staff, and their family members, including especially those who face imminent deportation.

Moreover, as you may well be aware, U.S. universities are uniquely positioned as "sensitive locations" according to an internal 2011 memo of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and as such officers are subject to restrictions when entering (www.ice.gov/doclib/ero-outreach/pdf/10029.2-policy.pdf ).

Realizing our historic sense of inclusiveness, justice, and humanity as well as our status as a leader among Hispanic Serving Institutions necessitates action. A sanctuary campus designation potentially provides the many families in our TAMUK community who live in fear of deportation threats, the protection that would be allowed by law or by peaceful action as a sanctuary campus.

Accordingly, we ask that you give your fullest consideration to the immediate development of a modus operandi as a sanctuary campus and make a public announcement to this effect.

Respectfully,