Amid growing pressure on immigration policies in the United States, several universities in Florida have decided to join the state’s campaign to strengthen collaboration with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These institutions have signed agreements allowing local law enforcement to assume the roles of immigration agents, in line with policies promoted by the administration of Donald Trump.
According to a spokesperson for the University of Florida, the institution confirmed on Friday that it has signed the agreement known as 287(g). This agreement, as detailed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), grants local officers the authority to carry out specific tasks related to the enforcement of immigration laws, always under ICE supervision.
The decision by Florida universities comes at a time when immigration policies have put international students, professors, and researchers in the United States under scrutiny. So far this year, more than 500 visas for students and academics across the country have been revoked. In many cases, these revocations have been linked to minor offenses committed years ago.
Impact on International Students and Academics
The University of Central Florida and the University of South Florida have also signed agreements with ICE.
In the specific case of the University of Florida, the institution’s Director of Public Affairs confirmed to the media on Friday that four students have recently lost their visas.
Additionally, visa cancellations do not only affect those facing serious accusations but also those who have committed minor infractions.
On Wednesday, a group of protesters gathered near the University of Florida to demonstrate against the deportation of a student from Colombia. Felipe Zapata Velásquez, 27, was deported by ICE agents last Sunday.
Jonathan Barrows, one of the protesters, said that someone being deported for “something as simple as a fine for having an expired license” was an “overreach” by the government.
“I hope that if we push back now, we can have a chance at a better future where we don’t have to worry about things like this,” Barrow added.
Zapata was first arrested by officers from the Gainesville Police Department in late March for driving with a suspended license. After the arrest, the student was transferred to the Alachua County jail.
Immigration officials stated that the student entered the U.S. in 2023 using an F-1 visa to attend Santa Fe College. This visa was canceled on October 4, 2024, after he failed to enroll.
Zapata’s mother told Colombian media that her son had tried to update his visa information after enrolling at the University of Florida.
ICE officers took Zapata from Gainesville to the Krome Service Processing Center in Miami just before deporting him to his home country.
Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida, explained that the arrests made throughout the week “were correct.” “The laws I sign on this matter are constitutional. We are not easing up at all when it comes to enforcing federal immigration laws,” he added.
Image: Infobae
