university\u2019s decision to work in tandem with ICE<\/a> to enforce immigration laws.<\/p>\nAccording to a lawsuit filed against university officials, the students \u201csilently stood for a moment, and then silently walked out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Police bodycam video appears to show those students standing up during the assembly and facing others in the audience, turning their backs to the speakers on stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have the right to be here, but they don\u2019t have the right to protest inside that venue,\u201d an officer told a university official.<\/p>\n
Once a school official told students anyone who wished to leave the assembly was free to do so, many students dispersed. As many of the demonstrators once again gathered outside, this time away from the entrance, the officer told them they were still too close to the venue.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can\u2019t gather there. It\u2019s not 50 feet from the building,\u201d the officer told demonstrators.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s the tape measure? You got a tape measure to show us?\u201d a demonstrator asked the officer.<\/p>\n
A woman then approached the officer, defending the students\u2019 actions.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut they\u2019re good kids. They\u2019re doing what they\u2019re supposed to do. And that\u2019s what we want, and the majority of us are immigrants,\u201d the woman said.<\/p>\n
The officer then acknowledged that students were permitted to protest, but drew the line after some that took part in actions that had crossed a line.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing is they do have the right. It\u2019s just, there\u2019s policies that they need to follow, and they have been bending and bending. And a couple of the kids in there broke a policy or two,\u201d the officer told the woman.<\/p>\n
Video posted on social media just outside the assembly showed some students pressing law enforcement on the university\u2019s agreement to work with ICE.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would you not have the police department rescind the agreement?\u201d a student asked an officer.<\/p>\n
Other students were also seen questioning FIU President Jeanette Nu\u00f1ez as she was getting into her car.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re an international school, why do you have ICE on campus?\u201d a student asked Nu\u00f1ez.<\/p>\n
Not long after that display, \u201cThe university charged seven of the students with misconduct for violating an FIU rule prohibiting \u2018expressive activities\u2019 indoors,\u201d according to the lawsuit. <\/p>\n
Back at the courthouse, representatives for ACLU of Florida say this policy violates students\u2019 First Amendment rights as students continued to rail against the university\u2019s agreement to cooperate with immigration authorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur demonstration was peaceful, silent and nondisruptive however our university has still decided to target my peers and I for standing up for our Latino and international community,\u201d said Caro.<\/p>\n
Inside the courtroom, attorneys for the ACLU asked a judge to block FIU from enforcing that policy while the lawsuit moves forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re feeling very optimistic that the court will block FIU from enforcing this policy and protect all students on campus from being punished for engaging in First Amendment-protected speech and expression,\u201d said Warren.<\/p>\n
The judge is expected to deliver a decision in the coming days.<\/p>\n
Classes for the fall semester at FIU begin on Monday.<\/p>\n
7News has reached out to the university for a statement on the lawsuit but have not heard back.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/p>\n
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