Florida Universities Partner with ICE, Sparking Student Unrest

Agreements give campus police immigration enforcement powers, alarming diverse student populations

Feb. 1, 2026 at 4:31am

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Many Florida universities have signed agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that grant campus police departments the authority to conduct immigration enforcement and access databases to check immigration status. This has caused a wave of anxiety and protests among students, especially at institutions with large international and Hispanic student populations, who fear increased targeting and deportation.

Why it matters

The partnerships, known as 287(g) agreements, have expanded rapidly under the Trump administration and now include colleges and universities for the first time. This raises concerns about the potential for immigration enforcement on campuses, which could intimidate and alienate vulnerable student populations.

The details

At least 16 public universities in Florida have signed 287(g) agreements with ICE over the past year, including Florida International University, the University of Florida, and the University of Central Florida. The agreements allow campus police, after training from ICE, to check immigration status and assist with deportations. University officials have said they would help ICE if requested, though no immigration sweeps have occurred on campuses yet.

  • In July 2025, Florida International University signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE.
  • In February 2026, students at Florida International University protested the university's cooperation with ICE.

The players

Carlton Daley

A student activist and engineering major at Florida International University who is concerned about the university's partnership with ICE.

Florida International University

A majority-Hispanic public university in Miami that has signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE, granting its campus police immigration enforcement powers.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that has rapidly expanded 287(g) agreements with local law enforcement, including for the first time partnerships with colleges and universities in Florida.

Ron DeSantis

The Republican governor of Florida who directed state law enforcement agencies to work with ICE, saying it would lead to more efficient deportations.

Kathy Hochul

The Democratic governor of New York who said she would introduce legislation to end 287(g) partnerships in her state, calling ICE a "rogue agency".

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What they’re saying

“They are perfectly OK and almost eager to be enacting this kind of social harm against our community.”

— Carlton Daley, Student activist (New York Times)

“The safety and well-being of every member of our campus community is always a top priority.”

— Amanda Ennis, Spokesperson, University of North Florida (New York Times)

“Even if in the short run it's not really used in practice, it will certainly scare people and for good reason.”

— Michael Kagan, Director of the Immigration Clinic, University of Nevada at Las Vegas (New York Times)

What’s next

The governor of New York plans to introduce legislation to end 287(g) partnerships in the state, which could set off a broader political battle over the use of these agreements on college campuses.

The takeaway

The expansion of 287(g) agreements to Florida universities highlights the growing political divide over immigration enforcement, with Republican-led states embracing partnerships with ICE while Democratic-led states seek to limit them. This is creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty for diverse student populations on campuses across the country.