More than 150 people gathered near the Egan statue in DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus in below-freezing temperatures to urge the university to declare itself a sanctuary campus and oppose potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. It was organized by the Young Democratic Socialists of America on Friday, Jan. 30, and included a petition delivery to the university administration.

The rally, drawing YDSA’s largest turnout yet, marked the third time the group has called for DePaul to become a sanctuary campus to protect students, faculty and staff.

“We have three more years of ICE,” said Aris Taşhan, YDSA’s co-chair. “It makes it all the more important that the university really works with us here and guarantees that we won’t stress about it for another three years.” 

The rally featured remarks from YDSA members, different campus organizations and DePaul faculty in support of the students’ demands. Organizers also delivered a petition with more than 3,000 signatures from members of the DePaul community to the university’s Division of Student Affairs office. 

In an email from university communications, they stated DePaul “affirms the dignity of every individual,” and that administrators are “currently reviewing the petition, and appreciate the students’ care and concern for each other and our community.”

The email noted that while parts of the university are open to the public, many are private, meaning that ICE is already restricted from entering them. It also said that Public Safety officers are trained to respond if federal law enforcement or ICE comes to campus.

“We need some part of the administration that is focused on alerting students to ICE presence on campus,” Taşhan said. “We have the university alert system. We’re aware that there’s a university PA system.”

A large portion of protesters attempted to enter the Student Center to deliver the petition during the protest but were threatened with arrest by campus security. Only organizers were allowed to enter.

“What YDSA wants and over 3,000 people support is just reasonable and Vincentian in the true meaning of the word,” said Kathleen Arnold, director of the Refugee and Forced Migration Studies program. 

“That is not radical in a certain way. It’s just logical,” she said. “We are not consumers, you are not trespassing right now, we are a community together.” 

University communications said the school is monitoring the environment, remains in contact with local and state authorities and is providing a list of resources available to the community. 

“If students have concerns about attending class/commuting to campus, they should contact their faculty members to discuss flexibility with attendance and assignments,” university communications said. 

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