<\/p>\n
Student supporters display signs reading \u201cFund my education, not my friends’ deportation\u201d and \u201cNO ICE ON CAMPUS\u201d during a rally organized by Sunrise UCF opposing immigration enforcement cooperation Friday.<\/p>\n
Izabella Siwik<\/p>\n
Sunrise UCF held a rally on campus Friday,\u00a0protesting the university police department\u2019s cooperation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and urging students to join a nationwide campus strike in April.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the rally, Angelina Orengo,\u00a0senior 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.”<\/p>\n
The planned protest comes with controversy over a cooperation agreement between the UCF Police Department and ICE under the federal 287(g) program<\/a>, which requires trained local or campus law enforcement officers to perform certain federal immigration enforcement operations.<\/p>\n UCF entered the agreement<\/a> in 2025 as part of a statewide push for local agencies to partner with federal immigration authorities.\u00a0Supporters say the program strengthens public safety and coordination with federal law enforcement.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tyler Schulz, engineering graduate student, said he backs UCF\u2019s participation in the 287(g) program.<\/p>\n Schulz said campus police should cooperate with federal authorities when\u00a0immigrants lacking permanent legal status\u00a0are arrested for crimes and rejected claims that enforcement reduces student safety.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t see how it would,\u201d he said. \u201cAs long as you don\u2019t interfere with law enforcement, we should feel safe.\u201d<\/p>\n Opponents of the agreement\u00a0argue it can create fear among immigrant and international students and potentially expose them to detention or deportation.<\/p>\n Orengo said students have expressed fear about protesting or engaging on campus because of immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n \u201cI have had multiple international students tell me they are terrified to protest for fear of deportation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Orengo said the event marked a countdown toward a student strike on April 10 tied to the national \u201cStudents Rise Up<\/a>\u201d campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe are calling on all students at UCF to walk out of class and not spend any money on campus on April 10,\u201d Orengo said. \u201cThis rally will call on the student body to join us in our fight against 287(g).\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n An Instagram post<\/a> from the Sunrise UCF account promoted Friday’s rally leading up to the event. It includes phrases such as \u201cICE OUT,\u201d \u201cEducation Not Deportation,\u201d and references the 287(g), suggesting opposition to law-enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.<\/p>\n The boards also urge supporters to \u201cTake action! Strike in April 2026<\/a>,\u201d indicating organizers’ strive toward a broader campus action later in the semester.<\/p>\n Orengo\u00a0added that the coalition includes groups such as Students for a Democratic Society\u00a0and 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.<\/p>\n