Editor’s Note: Clarifying details about the Socialist Alternative were added alongside the addition of Mark Patterson’s full name.
On Wednesday, students marched through Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus to protest the FAU Police Department’s ongoing partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Student organizations on campus organized the march, including the FAU College Democrats, Lavender Alliance, the Socialist Alternative, and the Sunshine Party. Protesters gathered by the Administration building, where community members heard from Karen Leader, May Diamond Rojas, Nicholas Ostheimer, Mark Patterson, and Blase from Socialist Alternative.
“I think it’s important for us to stand together and show that our support is stronger than any sort of hate,” said Olivia Ruud. “We can never guarantee our safety necessarily, but it’s more important to risk that for the people that aren’t able to be here. As a citizen, I would happily lay myself down for the people who aren’t able to be here. I want to stand up for those people,” she added.
Ruud, an FAU student majoring in English, walked out in the middle of her Introduction to Literature class, but said her professor was very supportive of students leaving class to participate in the walk-out.
Leader was the first to speak on the Administration building steps, stating that she is not here to disrupt university activity but to do what her job entitles her to do: represent the students, encouraging them to stand up, speak out, and educate themselves on the 287(g) agreement. She reminds the protesters that student government elections are this week, encouraging them to vote so that the student body can speak on their behalf.
Paradise Party Candidates Enrique Toro-Mendez, running for Boca Governor, and Faisal Albaldawi, running for vice president, were present at the protest. Atlantic Party member Dylan Salisbury, who is also running for Boca Governor, was also in attendance but declined to provide any comment.
Toro-Mendez joined in on the protest, helping students hold a “terminate 287 (g) agreement sign” stating that he’s here to listen to student voices and advocate for them in his election for Boca Governor. May Rojas, who is also running for Boca Governor, helped organize the protest with the Sunshine Party.
The protest comes after the FAU Student Government Senate passed SR 2026-01, a resolution for on-campus safety and transparency in relation to FAUPD’s 287(g) agreement with ICE on Monday night. The resolution argues that FAU’s participation in the 287(g) agreement could impact campus and student trust, and calls for greater transparency from the campus police department training.
Nick Ostheimer, President of the FAU College Democrats and a Boca House Representative, stated that the House has made three requests for FAU Chief of Police Sean Brammer to address students’ questions about the 287(g) agreement.
Before the Senate meeting, FAU College Democrats and Solidarity held a student protest training, part of the national “Students Rise Up” campaign.
In an email to the University Press, Mark Patterson, a member of Socialist Alternative and an organizer of the protest, explained the campaign.
“Students Rise Up” is a national campaign of student groups, teachers unions, and community organizations building an escalating series of actions on campuses across the country, culminating in a nationwide May Day event,” Patterson wrote.
In preparation for the protest, the two organizations helped educate protesters on First Amendment rights, protester rights, medical emergency response protocols, and how to interact with police and the media.
Nick Ostheimer, President of the College Democrats, told protesters that FAU is promoted as the state’s most diverse school. “If you’re a student here at FAU, then you belong here at FAU.”
They marched through the breezeway carrying descriptive signs and collectively chanting, “ICE OFF CAMPUS HAVE NO FEAR, IMMIGRANTS WELCOME HERE,” and made their way across Opportunity Way, once named Diversity Way, before ending up at the student union.
Richard Collins, a graduate student, stopped by after class to observe the protest. “No one is protesting for the people that have been killed,” Collins said, referring to crimes committed by immigrants.
Willow Gutierrez shared that her uncle was deported, and that’s what prompted her attendance at the protest. “He is a great man, he has children, and he was separated from them. One of them is 4 years old, and she’s not going to be able to see her dad.” Gutierrez said.
“What’s the point of [the 287(g) agreement]? They are students here, no criminals, they’re trying to learn,” she said.
An FAU student who later chose not to have his name in the publication said he supports ICE and the partnership between FAUPD. “The people that come into our country illegally, they don’t have background checks, they could be murderers… ICE being on campuses and enforcing immigration operations is good for everyone who is supposed to be here,” the student said.
Kahlela Leonard, Alaile Hernandez, and Victoria Madera-Cova, FAU students, were upset over the actions ICE has taken in the United States recently. “I’ve been seeing ICE literally murdering citizens on my screen for the past month or so, ripping people from their homes, and kids from their classrooms. I think it’s absolutely insane what they are doing, especially ICE coming on campus,” said Leonard
“Spread awareness on the issue, don’t be ignorant, and stand up for your classmates and use your voice. No matter what you look like or where you come from,” she added.
Mark, a member of Solidarity, urged students to join future walkouts and protest training on March 4th, highlighting plans for a May 1 “May Day” demonstration. He referenced the 2006 “Day Without Immigrants,” a nationwide walkout by workers and students to show the impact of collective action.
“If thousands of college students protest on the same day, it becomes a demonstration of real power,” Mark said.
Ava Hilton is the News Editor, and Emily Ives is the Political Reporter for the University Press. For more information on this or other stories, contact Hilton at [email protected] and Ives at [email protected].
