Students at the University of Delaware are urging campus leaders to declare the school a “sanctuary campus,” pressing for firm protections for international students and limits on ICE cooperation. The push, which renewed in October 2025, brought dozens of students into the streets to call for clear rules that would restrict federal immigration enforcement on campus and stop the sharing of student information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Advocates say the steps are needed to keep international students safe after a turbulent year that included the termination and later restoration of some student SEVIS records in April 2025.
Under a sanctuary campus policy, a university typically commits to bar immigration officers from entering non-public areas without a judicial warrant and to decline requests for sensitive student data unless required by law. Students argue these actions reduce fear and help keep focus on academics, not threats of sudden status checks. Similar policies have been adopted by Portland State University, Morehouse College, and Wesleyan University, according to organizers who point to those examples as proof such measures are workable on other campuses.
Policy demands from student advocates
Student government leaders and campus advocates at Delaware have put forward a detailed list of protections they want the administration to adopt. Their plan centers on keeping students enrolled, preserving aid, and building concrete contingency options if immigration problems arise.
Key proposals include:
- Guaranteed continued enrollment and academic support if a student’s visa or SEVIS record is revoked, so students can stay in classes while issues are reviewed.
- Scholarships and fellowships without work requirements remain intact even if a student loses work authorization, protecting tuition funding and basic support.
- Department-level contingency plans to allow remote degree completion when immigration status changes interrupt on-campus study, preventing delays to graduation.
- Direct advocacy with state leaders, asking UD’s government relations team to work with Delaware officials on laws that shield the campus and its international students from intrusive enforcement.
Backers say these measures would create a safety net for students who face abrupt status changes beyond their control. They also stress that privacy policies should be tightened to ensure student information is not shared with ICE unless required by a court order. That’s the core of the sanctuary campus model: a narrow, legally grounded stance that reduces day-to-day cooperation with ICE while still following the law.
“Students want clear rules on campus access for enforcement officers, strict standards for when records can be shared, and written commitments to keep students enrolled and funded through visa or SEVIS disruptions.”
Why the push intensified: April 2025 SEVIS incident
The push at Delaware comes after months of concern tied to federal database actions. In April 2025, some UD international students saw their SEVIS records terminated and later restored, causing stress about travel, work eligibility, and course plans.
While many situations were resolved, students say the episode shows how quickly status can shift—and why campus guardrails matter.
University response and current stance
UD leaders say they support international students and are working through the Center for Global Programs and Services (CGPS) to connect students with resources and legal help. The administration has monitored visa and SEVIS changes and offered support when problems arose.
However, the university has not declared sanctuary campus status or set up designated sanctuary spaces. Administrators point to ongoing assistance rather than a formal label.
That distinction reflects a broader debate across higher education in the United States:
- Some presidents and boards avoid the “sanctuary” label because it is not defined in federal law and may invite political or legal fights that could risk grants or other federal funding.
- Others believe the term sends a clear message to students about safety and belonging.
At Delaware, the standoff centers on how far the university will go in limiting ICE cooperation and memorializing protections in written policy.
Legal and practical considerations
Universities already handle student records under privacy laws, and campus police operate within state rules. Sanctuary campus policies typically build on those frameworks by:
- Requiring a judicial warrant for access to non-public areas.
- Specifying that staff won’t share immigration status information unless required by law.
Proponents say these steps align with existing legal norms while giving clearer guidance to staff who may field requests from federal agents.
Federal agencies continue to set and enforce rules for student immigration programs, including SEVIS, the tracking system for F-1 and J-1 students. For background on how SEVIS works and what schools must report, see the official ICE page: https://www.ice.gov/sevis.
Student groups say UD can comply with federal reporting duties while still limiting extra ICE cooperation that isn’t legally required.
Evidence and outside analysis
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, college policies that limit on-campus enforcement access and protect student data can reduce fear among international students, especially during times of fast-changing federal actions. At UD, the April SEVIS episode remains a touchpoint for many who worry that a similar event could happen again without strong campus protections in place.
Students pressing for change also urge the university to coordinate with Delaware lawmakers to pursue state-level measures. They argue new laws could:
- Shield campus records;
- Defend scholarship access; and
- Set conditions for when state or local agencies engage in ICE cooperation on school grounds.
These ideas mirror steps in some regions where local rules set higher bars for immigration enforcement in public institutions.
Practical stakes for students
The stakes are personal and immediate:
- Students who lose work authorization can be forced to give up assistantships that pay tuition.
- Sudden status changes can derail graduation plans, delay research, and separate families.
That’s why proposals to keep non-work aid in place and to allow remote completion matter in practical terms: they aim to keep degrees on track even when immigration rules shift midstream.
Where things stand and what’s next
While both sides say they want to support international students, they differ on whether the sanctuary campus label is the right vehicle.
- Advocates want a bolder stance and clear, public rules.
- Administrators stress ongoing support, case-by-case help through CGPS, and legal compliance.
For now, UD has not adopted the sanctuary campus designation, even as calls grow louder. Student groups plan to keep pressing for policy changes and a formal declaration as the fall term moves forward.
The core questions remain:
- Will the university set strict limits on ICE cooperation?
- Will it protect student data by default?
- Will it guarantee that international students can keep learning if their immigration status changes without warning?
For those on campus, answers in writing—not just statements of support—are the goal.
This Article in a Nutshell
University of Delaware students are urging administrators to adopt a sanctuary campus policy that would limit routine cooperation with ICE and protect international students after an April 2025 SEVIS disruption. Advocates want concrete protections: guaranteed continued enrollment during visa or SEVIS issues, preservation of scholarships and fellowships without work requirements, department contingency plans for remote degree completion, and stricter rules preventing student data sharing with ICE absent a court order. UD provides support through the Center for Global Programs and Services but has not formally adopted sanctuary status, citing legal and funding concerns. Student groups aim to secure written commitments and to push state-level coordination to strengthen campus protections.
