Aitana Salmeron | Staff Writer

The Internal Affairs committee voted 4-1 against an anti-ice resolution that would have condemned the university’s 287(g) agreement with federal immigration agents.

The resolution sought to condemn the 287(g) agreement and have FIU affirm that it will protect students rights to free speech, peaceful protests on campus where permissible by law, and expressing themselves on campus. If passed, the Student Government Association would have been required to release a public statement.

Senator Kaitlyn Castro, Daniela Alvarez, Renzo Brown, and Allison Stangl voted to not pass it. Senator Joshua Espizona was the only vote in favour.

“I intend to discharge it from committee and take it to the Senate floor,” Fernandez said.

Joshua presented his main arguments in favor. “While SGA should never be involved in partisan politics, that doesn’t mean it should never get involved in politics all together,” Espinoza said. “We are public officials at a public institution, elected by popular vote. Our jobs are political by nature, especially when it comes to matters that directly impact the FIU student body, the ongoing issue with ICE being a key example of such matters.”

Espinoza went on to say that, “As elected officials, it is our responsibility to the student body to represent them and their concerns.”

PantherNOW reached out Daniela Alvarez, Kaitlyn Castro, Renzo Brown, and Allison Stangl for comment but did not hear back. 

Fernandez released a public statement that he will discharge it from the committee and take it to the Senate floor. 

An anti-ice resolution submitted Sept. 20 to SGA is looking to condemn the 287(g) agreement and have FIU affirm that it will protect students rights to free speech, peaceful protests on campus where permissible by law, and expressing themselves on campus.

Manny Fernandez serves as the second vice president of the FIU College Democrats and is a SIPA student and Senator in SGA as well as a Community Council Member in the West Kendall area of Miami-Dade County. 

“I am interested in seeing FIU withdraw from the 287(g) agreement, but I also acknowledge that SGA doesn’t have the authority to make that decision on their own,” Fernandez said. “I think it’s important that out of all the agencies and departments on campus, Student Government should stand by the student body.”

Fernandez introduced a similar resolution in February and the Senate took it up in March with a 19-2 vote, but Senate rules state it must be signed by the speaker and the speaker pro tempore; however, it never got signed by the speakers so SGA couldn’t enforce it. FIU as a public university, went voluntarily and signed for the agreement last spring.

The SGA proposal is symbolic. Both the original and current resolution includes a requirement that if passed, SGA has to release a public statement about it. Fernandez said its purpose is so students at large know about it, since SGA’s Instagram has about 12,000 followers. 

“I know a lot of us run on the concept of transparency and making sure that students know what is going on,” Fernandez said. “A part of that is posting on socials so students can get a grasp of what SGA is doing and encourage students to participate in our public forums.”

The resolution was co-sponsored by the FIU College Democrats and Senators Alicia Bolton, Joshua Espinoza, and Jenisha Doll.

“If we can’t trust our police department to protect us and look out for our best interests, then we can’t be safe as students on campus,” Espinoza said.

Bolton had similar ideals. “I as senator believe that every student should be able to pursue an education in a safe, conductive environment regardless of their legal status,” Bolton said. “I don’t think the 287G agreement will do so, rather than keeping the student population safe it acts as a means of intimidation.”

“It’s wholly unnecessary on an educational institution that prides itself on international,” Bolton finished with.

The resolution was then assigned to the internal affairs committee and will take it up during their next meeting.

“I’m hopeful that it’ll go through committee and that the other senators and the Senate at large support it and can see why it’s important,” Fernandez said.

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