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Several universities are now working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of the Trump administration’s push to target undocumented immigrants—causing anxiety among visa-dependent students.
Through these partnerships, campus police and local law enforcement are authorized to question students about their immigration status, detain them, and share their information with ICE.
In Florida alone, more than a dozen colleges and universities have joined ICE’s 287(g) program, which permits local agencies to help enforce certain federal immigration laws.
“It’s terrifying and stressful,” said a Florida International University undergraduate in an interview with NBC News.
Institutions such as Florida State University, Florida Atlantic University, the University of Florida, the University of South Florida, and the University of Central Florida are among those participating in the program.
This follows a directive from Governor Ron DeSantis, who issued a memo urging Florida law enforcement agencies to join ICE’s 287(g) program.
Other universities may also sign onto the agreements, particularly under pressure from the federal government, which has hinted at cutting off funding for non-compliance.
These partnerships come at a time when immigration officers are increasingly targeting students on temporary visas—especially those involved in pro-Palestinian protests or with minor legal issues on their records.
“I might be next,” a Georgetown University student with a visa, who has published pieces on Israel and Gaza, told the BBC.
The rapid rollout of the policy has left many international students anxious. According to estimates from the Associated Press, at least 600 students have already had their visas revoked.
One doctoral student from the University of Alabama, an Iranian national, was detained by ICE in March. Homeland Security cited “significant national security concerns” as the reason for his detention.
A University of Michigan graduate student lost his visa the same month due to a 2023 DUI charge.
In Texas, another international student told the BBC he’s too scared to even leave his home to buy groceries.
