University of Maryland Bars ICE from Career Fair After Student Protests

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Key Takeaways

• The University of Maryland announced on February 13, 2025, that ICE will not participate in its spring career fair.
• The decision follows student protests, an SGA resolution, and updated guidelines limiting interactions with federal immigration agencies on campus.
• Excluding ICE raises implications for campus inclusivity, federal agency relations, and career opportunities in law enforcement or national security fields.

The University of Maryland 🇺🇸 has announced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will not be participating in its spring career fair scheduled for February 26-28, 2025. This shift follows strong backlash from students, who expressed widespread opposition to ICE’s presence, citing concerns over safety and campus values. The university made the decision public on February 13, 2025, after a series of protests, petitions, and a formal Student Government Association (SGA) resolution opposing ICE’s inclusion as a recruiter.

The spring career fair is a critical event for students at the University of Maryland, offering employment opportunities with over 300 companies in industries ranging from STEM to business. It is the university’s largest recruitment event of the semester. Initially, ICE was listed to appear on February 27 and 28, based on registrations made through Handshake, the platform used to manage the career fair. However, ICE’s involvement quickly became a contentious issue, and students mobilized to have the agency removed from the list of recruiters.

University of Maryland Bars ICE from Career Fair After Student Protests

Student-Led Opposition to ICE

On February 12, 2025, the university’s SGA unanimously passed a bill calling on the administration to revoke ICE’s invitation. The bill did more than challenge ICE’s participation at the career fair. It urged the university to take additional measures, such as barring ICE officials from accessing non-public campus areas and ensuring the university does not voluntarily share student records, including immigration data, with the agency. This measure reflected deep concerns from the student body over how ICE’s involvement could affect vulnerable students, particularly those with immigration-related worries.

The campaign to exclude ICE extended beyond the SGA. Several student groups combined forces under the banner of the Anti-Imperialist Movement at UMD. These organizations, including Political Latinxs United for Movement and Action in Society, the UMD Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, and Students for Justice in Palestine, spearheaded grassroots efforts to bring awareness to the issue. Their tactics included distributing flyers around campus and sharing a petition on Instagram. The petition argued that ICE’s presence contradicted the university’s stated commitment to fostering an inclusive and safe campus. It stressed that such inclusion would undermine the well-being of both students and staff, stating, “For the university to claim to be fostering an ‘inclusive community of care’… while inviting such a predatory agency to campus reveals a complete and utter failure… to uphold its own values.”

University’s Official Response

Just one day after the SGA passed its resolution, the university announced that ICE had been removed from the career fair. A statement provided to The Diamondback, the university’s student newspaper, confirmed the decision but emphasized that it was unrelated to the SGA’s bill. Instead, the administration indicated that its Career Center maintains strict ethical guidelines for employers attending recruitment events. The statement reiterated that all participating organizations must align with the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ principles for ethical professional practices.

In a parallel move, the university issued updated guidelines concerning interactions with federal immigration enforcement agencies. The instructions included specific steps for university staff to follow if federal officers request access to campus areas or seek personal information about students. The guidelines emphasized transparency and legal adherence, recommending that staff notify University of Maryland Police and the Office of the General Counsel before allowing agents into private areas or sharing any data. Officials instructed staff explicitly not to disclose information, including a student’s immigration status, without consulting legal advisors.

A Broader Pattern of Tensions

The exclusion of ICE from the University of Maryland’s career fair reflects a growing pattern of tension between higher education institutions and immigration enforcement agencies. Similar disputes have occurred at other universities in recent years, often fueled by student activism and evolving policy conflicts.

In one notable case, the University of Maryland, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University 🇺🇸, sued the Trump administration in 2020 over an ICE directive related to international students. At that time, ICE had enacted a controversial rule that would have required international students to leave the United States if their programs operated fully online amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The legal battle highlighted concerns about ICE’s impact on higher education and foreign-born students who contribute to academic and research initiatives nationwide.

These debates have not been confined to pandemic-era disputes. In 2018, revelations about the University of Maryland’s contract with ICE sparked outrage among students and faculty. Activists called on the university to sever ties with the agency, arguing that its involvement conflicted with the school’s principles of equity and inclusion.

Implications of ICE’s Exclusion

The decision to revoke ICE’s invitation to the spring career fair carries a variety of implications for the University of Maryland. On one hand, it represents a victory for student activists who view this move as a necessary step to protect campus safety and inclusivity. Students who felt uncomfortable with ICE’s presence have expressed relief, believing this decision reinforces the university’s commitment to creating a supportive environment for all students.

On the other hand, some students may see this decision as limiting their access to potential career opportunities. For those pursuing degrees or careers in fields related to law enforcement, immigration, or national security, ICE’s absence means they will not have the chance to interact with recruiters and discuss future employment opportunities. Balancing these differing perspectives will require the university to maintain open channels for dialogue with its student body while remaining transparent about recruitment policies.

This situation also raises broader concerns about how educational institutions balance their responsibilities to students with their relationships with government agencies. By banning ICE from the career fair, the University of Maryland has made a clear statement about its priorities. However, questions remain about whether this decision could affect the university’s ability to work with federal agencies on other matters, including funding and research partnerships.

Looking Ahead to the Career Fair

Despite the controversy surrounding ICE’s exclusion, the upcoming career fair still promises to be a major event for University of Maryland students. The three-day event features a wide range of employers across several fields, with a special focus on opportunities in STEM on the first two days. The University Career Center continues to encourage students to prepare thoroughly, advising them to bring essential materials such as resumes and ID cards and to dress professionally.

Programs leading up to the event are also available to help participants polish their resumes and improve their interview skills. The goal is to ensure that every student can make the most of the networking opportunities the career fair provides.

Final Thoughts

The University of Maryland’s decision to exclude ICE from its spring career fair marks an important moment of change and dialogue on campus. Student activism played a decisive role in shaping this outcome, demonstrating the power of collective action in influencing university policies. While these actions may limit some career avenues for students, they have undoubtedly sparked critical conversations about the role of immigration enforcement within academic spaces.

This decision also aligns with broader national debates about immigration, student safety, and the responsibilities of academic institutions in politically sensitive times. For other universities watching closely, the University of Maryland’s handling of this controversy may serve as an essential example of responding to similar challenges. To learn more about federal student rights and institutional responsibilities, you can visit U.S. Department of Education’s official site.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, the upcoming career fair is expected to remain a valuable resource for career development, offering students hundreds of opportunities, even without ICE’s involvement. The situation demonstrates how universities and their communities can navigate complicated decisions while aiming to protect both inclusivity and opportunity.

Learn Today

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) → Federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and handling border control and deportation matters in the U.S.
Student Government Association (SGA) → Elected student body organization that represents student interests and advocates for their concerns within a university.
Handshake → An online platform universities use to connect students with employers for job postings, career fairs, and networking opportunities.
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) → Organization that sets ethical standards and guidelines for professional recruiting and career services in higher education.
Grassroots efforts → Community-driven initiatives focused on collective action, often involving protests, petitions, or organizing to address social or political issues.

This Article in a Nutshell

The University of Maryland’s removal of ICE from its 2025 career fair highlights the power of student activism. Protests and petitions demanded action, citing safety concerns and campus values. This decision reinforces the university’s commitment to inclusivity while sparking broader conversations about balancing federal agency ties and student rights within academic spaces.
— By VisaVerge.com