University Controversy Over ICE Operations
A small private university in Minneapolis is facing backlash after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused its officials of obstructing ICE operations to shield undocumented students who are also registered sex offenders.
On Monday evening, DHS announced on X about the arrest of Jesús Saucedo Portillo, an undocumented immigrant and sex offender, who was charged with driving while impaired.
This arrest was reportedly obstructed by school administrators and campus security, who attempted to prevent ICE from executing their duties.
Saucedo Portillo is currently a student at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.
DHS stated that their agents informed the university’s administration and campus security that they had a warrant for Saucedo-Portillo’s arrest. However, the school administrator allegedly told the ICE officer that his actions were against university regulations. The officials were reminded that federal law overrides any university policy, suggesting that blocking law enforcement could be seen as obstruction of justice.
Despite these reminders, the university’s administrators reportedly insisted on intervening and ordered campus security to obstruct the ICE vehicle.
Augsburg’s President, Paul Pribenov, in an interview, confirmed that Saucedo-Portillo was indeed a student and labeled the arrest as “illegal,” claiming ICE lacked a proper warrant. He mentioned that ICE agents had drawn their weapons on students and staff who had gathered during the incident. Subsequently, students contacted campus security and established protocols for ICE’s presence on campus.
Pribenov also commended the students who engaged in activities against ICE actions, noting their bravery during a tense situation.
In a conflicting perspective, DHS maintained that their officers acted within the bounds of their training, employing the least amount of force necessary to ensure the area was secure and successfully detaining the individual in question.
Augsburg officials have not responded to several requests for further comments regarding the situation.
