VERMILLION, SD (KELO AM) The University of South Dakota may become a so-called sanctuary campus, which would be the first in the state.
The Student Government Association has approved a non-binding resolution asking University leaders to create policies to protect students who are undocumented immigrants. It is in reaction to the Trump Administration's immigration orders.
"I think it is very important that we as a student body express to all of our students at USD, that we support them and that we don't agree with these policies our president is implementing," says the SGA's Josh Arens, the resolution's sponsor.
Arens says the resolution calls for USD to establish a clearer process to help undocumented students who may get into trouble with federal authorities. It would also prohibit campus security from asking questions about a student's immigration status. Some critics say the proposal might put security officers in conflict with the law. Arens disagrees.
"We are not telling them to harbor students if an agent were to come to the University. We are not telling them to do unlawful acts," explains Arens to KELO.COM News. Arens won't say how many undocuments immigrant students are on campus so as not to get anyone in trouble, but he says it is significant enough to have a policy in place.