As skies grew greyer Thursday, more than 20 protestors raised placards with phrases like “hands off our students” and “no human is illegal” in front of the Graham Center at Florida International University’s main campus.
The crowd was there to protest an agreement between the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and FIU police.
“When immigrants are under attack, what do we do?” they chanted. “Stand up, fight back!”
“Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcomed here,” came later.
Protests similar to this one erupted back in April, when FIU first signed the agreement. In July the university finalized the plan to allow police officers to be trained by ICE to enforce federal immigration laws on campus.
FIU President Jeanette E. Nuñez assured that ICE would have access to campus regardless of the agreement. “Really the only thing that changed is the FIU was in control as opposed to being reactive and on the back end of that,” Nuñez told NBC6.
That justification doesn’t calm students. Immigrants fear being prosecuted and targeted on campus.
Arianna Ming, a member of FIU student organization Power U, said her role is to be a “crutch” for those who were afraid to come on Thursday.
“We will be here and we will be loud,” said Ming.
There were many speeches reflecting the protestors’ disagreement with the university’s decisions.
One of the most frustrated was former South Miami mayor and FIU professor emeritus of biological sciences Philip Stoddard said the agreement poisoned relations between campus police and students.
“FIU without the I is FU,” he said.
Philip Stoddard giving a speech at the Modesto A. Maidique Campus Graham Center lawns on Sept. 18, 2025 (Caplin News/ Sonia Stolar)
Stoddard is concerned the new agreement will not provide students with an equal chance to succeed. The tensions from a ruptured trust between students and police could harm the educational environment.
He also suggested creating a fast-response network and identifying police officers who receive ICE training to promote transparency and reduce anxiety among students.
Students and faculty protesting ICE at GC lawns, (Caplin News/ Sonia Stolar)
The debate will likely continue on the police-ICE 287(g) agreement, which is a part of the Immigration and Nationality Act that allows police and the feds to work together on college campuses. It was part of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act.
Along with other students who stood up against the agreement, Ming said she must put her fears aside. She stands in front of the Graham Center, aware of the attention the protest is receiving. Yet, no action has been taken in response to the frustrations.
“It is a long fight,” she said. “We are creating change that will outlive us.”
