The Student Government Senate at the University of North Florida approved a resolution condemning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its agreement with university police at a meeting on Friday, Feb. 13.
The aforementioned ICE agreement is between the university and ICE and allows local officers, including university police, to be trained to administer federal immigration enforcement.
In light of the upcoming Spring SG election, Spinnaker reached out to the representatives of the two political parties, the Talon Party and the SAM Party, for comment.
Student Government Resolution
Following the student Senate’s approval of the resolution, SG expressed its intention to forward it to the UNF Police Chief Francis J. Mackesy, Provost Karen B. Patterson, all 19 members of the Jacksonville City Council, Mayor Donna Deegan and Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters.
“Let be it resolved that the Student Government Body of the University of North Florida condemns the recent ICE actions and Operation Metro Surge, urges meaningful review and reform of federal immigration enforcement practices, urges the UNF Police Department and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to cancel any existing, pending, or future ICE partnerships, and calls for safeguards that protect civil rights, community stability, and equitable treatment under the Law,” read the resolution.
SAM party’s response
The SAM party’s Spring 2026 presidential candidate is Sen. Ben Shmia with running mate Sen. Hunter Hayes.
Shmia said that Winter Slaughter, the Senate Pro Tempore and SAM party chair who introduced this resolution to the Senate, “uses this position to support students by passing resolutions such as these.”
“The SAM party unequivocally supports and stands behind UNF’s immigrant and international students. We believe that they are just as entitled to the education and resources offered by the university as any other student, and our goal is to ensure that they feel safe and accepted on campus,” Shmia said.
The SAM party also has a “full roster” of senatorial candidates from diverse cultures, religions and groups, according to Shmia.
As a presidential candidate, Shmia assured that he fully stands behind the resolution and insists that resolutions can be effective.
“They [resolutions] show the administration that the student body does care, and serves as an important vehicle for them to air their concerns,” Shmia said.
Action taken by UNF’s Faculty Association
James Beasley, president of the UNF Faculty Association (FA), confirmed in an email this past Monday that the FA also passed a resolution calling on the administration to withdraw from the ICE agreements.
“For resolutions, we don’t write them to necessarily persuade, but to give others the words they might need for reasons we know nothing about,” Beasley said. “What’s interesting is that admin has neither approved of disapproved of that resolution.”
Looking ahead
In response to the administration’s indifference to FA resolution, Shmia believes there is a possibility of moving forward effectively with the university’s interim president, Angela Falconetti.
“Being the daughter of immigrant parents, I hope she will be open to hearing us out and supporting the students,” Shmia said. “By passing this resolution, we have confidently shown the beliefs of the students to the administration and the new president.”
Shmia delved into his intentions and goals as Student Body President.
“As president, I would work to establish a strong relationship with the interim president and hope to push administration to a more student-focused stance.”
Spinnaker reached out to the Talon party for a comment on the resolution but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
On Feb. 18, the Talon party announced that Budget and Allocations Chair Hazel Joseph and SG Director of Public Relations Tommy Mazzella will run for Student Body President and Vice President.
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