Student supporters display signs reading “Fund my education, not my friends’ deportation” and “NO ICE ON CAMPUS” during a rally organized by Sunrise UCF opposing immigration enforcement cooperation Friday.
Izabella Siwik
Sunrise UCF held a rally on campus Friday, protesting the university police department’s cooperation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and urging students to join a nationwide campus strike in April.
During the rally, Angelina Orengo, senior political science major, Sunrise UCF hub coordinator and president, introduced the purpose of this rally with the “removal of ICE presence from campus, the fight against 287g program, and for professors to be paid a livable wage.”
The planned protest comes with controversy over a cooperation agreement between the UCF Police Department and ICE under the federal 287(g) program, which requires trained local or campus law enforcement officers to perform certain federal immigration enforcement operations.
UCF entered the agreement in 2025 as part of a statewide push for local agencies to partner with federal immigration authorities. Supporters say the program strengthens public safety and coordination with federal law enforcement.
Tyler Schulz, engineering graduate student, said he backs UCF’s participation in the 287(g) program.
Schulz said campus police should cooperate with federal authorities when immigrants lacking permanent legal status are arrested for crimes and rejected claims that enforcement reduces student safety.
“I don’t see how it would,” he said. “As long as you don’t interfere with law enforcement, we should feel safe.”
Opponents of the agreement argue it can create fear among immigrant and international students and potentially expose them to detention or deportation.
Orengo said students have expressed fear about protesting or engaging on campus because of immigration enforcement.
“I have had multiple international students tell me they are terrified to protest for fear of deportation,” she said.
Orengo said the event marked a countdown toward a student strike on April 10 tied to the national “Students Rise Up” campaign.
“We are calling on all students at UCF to walk out of class and not spend any money on campus on April 10,” Orengo said. “This rally will call on the student body to join us in our fight against 287(g).”
An Instagram post from the Sunrise UCF account promoted Friday’s rally leading up to the event. It includes phrases such as “ICE OUT,” “Education Not Deportation,” and references the 287(g), suggesting opposition to law-enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The boards also urge supporters to “Take action! Strike in April 2026,” indicating organizers’ strive toward a broader campus action later in the semester.
Orengo added that the coalition includes groups such as Students for a Democratic Society and Young Democratic Socialists of America, along with Florida-based organizations. Organizers hope 10,000 to 15,000 students nationwide will participate in the April strike, Orengo said.
Sunrise UCF is also calling for increased university budget transparency and higher faculty wages through the strike.
Some students voiced support for the university’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
“It’s enforcing the law the people voted on,” Schulz said. “If you’re here illegally, you shouldn’t be here. Every country does this.”
Tyler Schulz, a graduate engineering student (left) and Jasmine Stewart, junior biomedical science major (right), are both involved with Turning Point USA at UCF. They showed their support for ICE with their own signs during the anti-ICE rally Friday.
Izabella Siwik
He criticized protest messaging as misleading, but said demonstrations themselves are appropriate on campus.
“I think all forms of free speech are important,” he said. “When people stop talking, that’s when violence starts.”
Other students expressed more mixed views.
Julianna Pomposello, freshman studio art major, said she supports immigration, but believes it should occur legally.
“I am all for immigrants coming here — I think that’s what makes this country amazing,” Pomposello said. “But it should always be legally the right way.”
Pomposello was accompanied by a bystander, who didn’t agree with her opinions at first, but agreed that there is no reason for violence or aggression to be involved when it comes to conversations on this topic.
“I miss having to talk about this topic because no one has the idea of human decency anymore, but this agreement felt refreshing,” Pomposello said.
University officials have not publicly responded to the group’s demands as of Feb. 27.