The sole faculty union at the University of Oregon has declared itself a “sanctuary union” that will not cooperate with federal deportation efforts.
The University Academics (UA) union at the University of Oregon (UO) — which represents approximately 1,900 university employees — announced that it will not be cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on any future deportations, and will form a legal defense fund.
UO’s faculty opposition to federal immigration enforcement coincides with the Trump administration’s effort to target universities’ purse strings over their tepid response to pro-Hamas protests on campus and push for left-wing programming. Over 80% of UO’s research funding came from federal sources in fiscal year 2024, The Register-Guard reported. The Department of Education announced in March that it was investigating UO alongside dozens of other universities for alleged “racially-exclusionary practices.”
“Be it resolved that UA declares itself a ‘Sanctuary Union’ that will take measures to protect the rights and safety of all the employees we represent and their families, regardless of their immigration status or national origin,” the April 21 announcement read.
UA “will not voluntarily cooperate with federal agents in the arrest, prosecution, or attempted deportation of represented employees or their family members” and will commit to “educate faculty and other workers on best practices to lawfully resist unlawful actions by ICE and its agents,” according to the announcement.
The university and ICE did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
UA is the only faculty union on campus and includes “tenure-track and non-tenure-track instructional faculty, adjuncts, librarians, research faculty and postdoctoral scholars,” according to the university’s website.
The Trump administration has rescinded billions of dollars in federal funding from universities for promoting policies that conflict with President Donald Trump’s policy priorities.
The administration froze roughly $175,000,000 in federal funds from the University of Pennsylvania over policies over its decision to allow a biological male called Lia Thomas to compete against women.
They also pulled over $400 million from Columbia University over its failure to protect Jewish students from pro-Hamas protests. Columbia changed its tune shortly after the money stopped flowing and announced an update to university policies intended to protect all students.
The Trump administration has also taken legal action against people who impede federal immigration efforts. Trump immigration czar Tom Homan has said that anyone who helps illegal migrants avoid arrest is committing a felony and could be arrested. The FBI recently arrested a judge in Milwaukee for allegedly helping illegal migrants avoid ICE agents waiting outside her courtroom.
UA has urged the the UO administration to join in the effort.
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