Fordham Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) hosted a rally outside of the Lowenstein Center on April 8 against the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the New York Police Department (NYPD) on campus.
SJP released a press statement on their Instagram page outlining their demands for the university, calling for “immediate transparency from the administration, a public commitment to non-cooperation with immigration enforcement, and material support for any affected students.”
Over 40 individuals attended the rally. NYPD officers were also present, alongside members of their legal team. Throughout the demonstration, speakers called on Fordham’s administration to take decisive action to protect international student visas.
The protest came after University President Tania Tetlow announced via email that an unnamed student had their visa revoked without notice. The message, titled “Immigration Status and International Travel,” was sent from the Office of the President on April 4.
“I hope Fordham can commit to defying the DHS and the NYPD and ICE and refusing to work with them, refusing to hand over students. I hope that they will show their support, their solidarity, that they will be transparent with us, and that they will provide legal aid to students who need it to protect their visa status,” Eva Vila, FCLC ’28
In the middle of the protest, one of the protesters brought out a megaphone and was swiftly shut down by a member of the NYPD. According to the New York City Liberties Union, using a megaphone requires a permit: “As with amplified sound in other public places, you must get a permit from the NYPD. The NYPD will typically not issue a sound permit until you also get your Parks Special Event Permit.”
Eva Vila, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’28, was front and center throughout the protest. She said she came to the event to support international students and immigrants.
“I’m very concerned about the way the presidential administration is disappearing people, some people for having views of dissent that they want to silence, and some people for no reason at all,” Vila said.
Vila also shared that she hopes Fordham will protect their international student community through legal aid and other avenues for assistance.
“I hope Fordham can commit to defying the DHS and the NYPD and ICE and refusing to work with them, refusing to hand over students. I hope that they will show their support, their solidarity, that they will be transparent with us, and that they will provide legal aid to students who need it to protect their visa status,” Vila said.
A prospective student and her mother were on a campus tour when they stopped to talk to a member of The Observer. The daughter said that the protests did not affect her decision to attend Fordham, and her mother agreed.
“There will be protests everywhere,” the mother said.
Another demonstrator, Jackie Kimbrough, FCLC ’28, said she attended the protest to signal her support for international students and faculty within the Fordham community, as well as to apply pressure on Fordham to defend their students.
“My hope is that Fordham will take a stance and not work with ICE and DHS and protect their students and then, if there’s something that happens, that they will provide those students legal aid,” Kimbrough said.
The rally ran for about an hour with no arrests made. This was SJP’s first organized demonstration since the fall semester.
