Renewed Focus On Immigration Enforcement Divides Austin Community

AUSTIN, TX — Call it a sign of the times.

Fliers popped up at the University of Texas at Austin student dorms on Monday as a show of support for the recently bolstered enforcement of immigration policy by officials of the U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement agency.

"These fliers were found at UT today," CBS Austin anchor and University of Texas at Austin graduate Hema Mullur tweeted on Monday. "UT Austin says they support free speech, but this is not allowed."

Reached by Patch for comment, University of Texas at Austin spokesman J.B. Bird said the signs were in the process of being removed, a task made more challenging given the strong adhesive used to affix them, he noted in an email. Bird provided Patch with the university's official statement.

While the university espouses free speech, posting signs of any kind is not allowed on campus, university officials said.

"The university vigorously supports free speech, but posting signs of any nature on the outside of university buildings is not allowed under campus rules," the statement read. "Additionally, as per policy, only students and student organizations are allowed to post signage in approved spaces on campus. The campus is reserved for the use of students, faculty, staff and their invited guests. Any person coming onto campus damaging or defacing university property is subject to criminal prosecution."

The anti-immigrant sentiments of the signs are the first tangible, if tacit, show of support for ICE agents currently in the midst of rounding up undocumented immigrants in Austin and elsewhere in the country. Unlike pro-immigrant forces who unabashedly show their advocacy for migrants through marches, protests and vigils that have been occurring daily since last week's fortified ICE presence, those supporting ICE generally voice such backing in anonymous comments to news stories under protective pseudonyms.

Critics of ICE Out of Austin, a group that advocates for the rights of immigrants, exhibit another stealthy way some anti-immigrant forces exercise in voicing their views. The group has publicized a specially created hotline for immigrants needing advice of legal help in light of the recent uptick in ICE enforcement, only to have the line usurped by anonymous critics making threatening calls or writing menacing threats to the line, according to ICE Out of Austin officials via Facebook.

"Go back to Mexico," one caller texted the group. "Your Holocaust is coming, trash," the missive concludes.

The anonymous callers upped the threats ante with audio last Friday, leaving the line open but to broadcast snippets of speeches by Adolf Hitler and other recordings, the group reported.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the ideological spectrum, dozens of people have gathered at the intersection of Lamar Boulevard and Rundberg Lane in North Austin on Monday in continuing to decry recent ICE action. Protesters have assembled near the spot where an undocumented immigrant was detained while on his way to work.

>>> Photo above of ICE Out of Austin members gathered outside the J.J. Pickle Federal Building at a recent vigil opposing recent immigration enforcement crackdowns, by Tony Cantú