The murder of two citizens involved in or adjacent to protests over the ICE presence in Minneapolis has captured the attention of a wide and diverse segment of the U.S. One of the most damning aspects of these murders is the spin of DHS and ICE, both of which reversed the blame to place it on the victims themselves, local and state officials, and "radical left" protestors who threatened ICE officers. Both conservatives and liberals only have to view the videos. No narrative is necessary to understand that the murders overstepped law and any reason in policing.
Minneapolis higher education institutions have responded by issuing shelter in place orders, stepping up security, and moving to temporary on-line learning. The demonstrations have been very public and, while not centered on campuses, precautions have been reasonable and necessary. Minneapolis College of Art & Design President Freed issued a statement reflecting the sentiment of many, "From Student Affairs staff who braved teargas to get to residence halls, to volunteers who helped us pick up and deliver food for students and employees, to our Facilities team members who boarded up our 26th Street windows amid the mayhem and subzero cold, and so many more - everyone gave their all." A collection of school districts and university faculty sued ICE for violating immigrant individual rights and disrupting citizens' lives.
The Minneapolis mayhem may have been intentional, designed to threaten and create fear among those who would oppose the Trump administration. What is amazing is that the sloppiness of everyone from Steven Miller to Greg Bovino has now created a warranted backlash that will result in ICE drawing down in Minneapolis and removal of those who have been the face of immigration enforcement. The irony is that higher education could have been a resource to provide analysis and improve selection/training of ICE personnel. The long-standing relationships of Minneapolis institutions with immigrant communities established trust that helped to get through the ICE occupation but it was severely tested. Had the Trump administration carefully studied and designed a response to Trump's campaign promise to tackle immigration, the current damage control could have been avoided.
A key strategy of Trump administration officials is to preempt the narrative by spinning every offense in the media before the facts are known. Another way to deal with opposition is to silence it. Although Trump and his appointees are aggressive in both, academics are increasingly speaking out even in the face of retribution or targeting of various sorts. International scholars who are less vulnerable are joining U.S. scholars to increase the international resistance. Protestors at Columbia University, motivated by various issues including standing up for international students, were arrested for refusal to disperse and blocking traffic. Columbia officials criticized the University for assisting ICE officials. The presence of ICE recruiters has become a source of protests at some campus career fairs.
We are all Minneapolis because every institution, every educator, has to watch carefully and determine where we stand. The issue is not to oppose government initiatives but instead to push for reason, respect for constitutional rights, respect for institutions, and compassion. All of us hope that Minneapolis may be a turning point on ICE and on other issues that will bring the Trump administration to some semblance of reason.
