Students Want Rutgers Declared A 'Sanctuary Campus,' Will Protest Wednesday

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Rutgers students will hold a protest Wednesday to protest federal ICE enforcement on the three Rutgers campuses across New Jersey.

The protest will be held from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on the College Avenue main campus in New Brunswick, on Records Field at 620 George Street. There is no estimate as to expected crowd size.

Organizers say its timing was intentional to coincide with the Rutgers Board of Governor's meeting, which will be held at that same time Wednesday afternoon, but on the Rutgers Camden campus.

The students are calling on Rutgers to declare itself a "sanctuary campus," which they say means Rutgers would "refuse collaboration with ICE." Organizers say they will present this petition to the Board of Governors Wednesday; the petition was signed by nearly 3,000 Rutgers students and staff and calls on Rutgers to declare itself a sanctuary campus.

Are federal ICE agents allowed on campus? The short answer is yes. Rutgers said it has no legal authority to stop ICE agents from arriving on campus and detaining students/faculty.

The school pointed to this January 2025 order from the Trump administration, which took away a previous order from the Biden White House that prevented ICE agents from operating in sensitive areas, such as churches, schools and hospitals. Rutgers advises if ICE agents arrive on campus, people should called Rutgers University Police, who will respond immediately.

If ICE agents arrive on campus, people should called Rutgers University Police, who will respond immediately.

Rutgers campus police will check if the ICE agents have a warrant, said the school.

However: "Upon verification of the judicial warrant or other court order, RUPD will not have the authority to interfere," said the school.

ICE agents do not need a warrant to detain people in public spaces, but they generally do need a warrant to enter private homes and private workplaces, including schools, which are considered private property.

"Rutgers University is not aware of any ICE arrests on its campuses in 2025 or 2026," said a Rutgers spokeswoman this week. "The university has not been notified of any such activity."

A university spokeswoman referred to this page, which outlines Rutgers' policy on ICE and immigration enforcement:

Q: Is the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allowed on Rutgers campuses?

A: Yes. Federal authorities, including immigration authorities, are not precluded from being on campus. In addition, a Jan. 20 Department of Homeland Security directive removed a federal policy that largely protected “sensitive” areas like churches, schools and hospitals from being targets of immigration activity. However, federal authorities are precluded from directing the Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) to serve as agents in their stead.

Rutgers is committed to ensuring that any federal enforcement actions on campus adhere to due process, including the requirement of a warrant when necessary. In the event federal immigration authorities do show up on Rutgers University property, RUPD should be immediately notified. RUPD will serve as the point of contact, respond, and meet with the federal immigration authorities to determine their purpose on campus, verify their credentials, and ensure the necessary paperwork is in order.

Rutgers is urging its students and staff not to interact with ICE agents, and to instead call RUPD immediately if ICE agents are spotted on campus.

Q: What should I do if I see federal authorities enter a Rutgers facility?

A: Contact RUPD. You should immediately call the Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) and provide the information you have. Defer to RUPD. Let the federal authorities know you have been instructed to contact RUPD and that you are not authorized to grant access to the facility ... Do not engage. Your only responsibility is to call RUPD and let the federal authorities know that campus police are en route. Do not engage further with federal authorities. RUPD will interact with them.

Q: What should I do if federal authorities seek to question me?

A: Do not run. Ask the agent if you are free to go. If the answer is yes, walk away calmly. If the answer is no, wait for the RUPD to interact with the federal authorities. If the officer indicates that you are under arrest and the RUPD has not arrived, request to see a judicial arrest warrant but comply with any lawful order.

Q: Will the university be notified in advance of any immigration activities taking place on campus?

The short answer is no.

Rutgers said "We have no information that ICE or other federal enforcement agencies are or will be on campus, nor do we have an expectation that we will receive advance notice if enforcement actions take place on or near campus."

Rutgers said it respects students' privacy and does not share student records unless required by law. Further, "Rutgers Police do not ask one's immigration status unless a serious crime has been committed," said the school.