ANJALI DALAL-WHELAN / ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Last Wednesday, on their way to class, Toreros ran into a stream of students, professors and administrators marching through USD’s main campus to protest ICE and show support for immigrants.  

The protest, which took place on Feb. 11, instructed participants to walk out of their buildings at 2 p.m. and disperse at the ring of the Immaculata bells at 2:30 p.m. 

The rain did not deter members of the USD community from participating. Some protesters held signs, with messages such as “Immigrants Make America Great” and “Abolish ICE.” Others joined in on their way to class, backpacks in hand. 

The march was quiet, with the flyer for  the  event  stating  there  would be no amplified sound or organized chants. Still, some marchers started up the occasional chants such as “Sí se Puede” and “ICE Out.”

USD senior Maribel Acevedo participated, and shared why it was important  for  her  to  be there. 

“I’m  out    here  because  I’m   a proud  product  of   immigrants,” Acevedo  stated. “I have always been  standing behind   immigrants   and what they   have   built   for   this  country and what they  have  built  for  me in my  life…  Borders  are  construct that  we,   as  people,   have   created  and given  meaning   to,   and  I    don’t    see the  need  for such  a  derogatory  view    on   people  who decide to cross for  a better  life.” 

Grace Caponetto, a third-year  law student at USD, was the lead organizer for the event. She was supported by two USD Law clubs, the USD National Lawyers Guild and USD’s Immigration Law Society. Caponetto shared one of the goals of the march. 

“Holding   something  like  the ‘ICE   out!   March  for  Human Dignity’ on  USD’s  campus   gives  everyone  in our community  who  has  been  feeling helpless  in the face of constant and escalating  constitutional and human rights violations in our country something to do to direct their rage, sadness and fear,” Caponetto said. 

USD   President James T. Harris III and  other USD  administrators were    at   the  front  of    the   crowd   as the protest  marched  around   campus.  

Caponetto said that she met with USD administrators to get the march approved, leading them to choose to participate in the event. 

After an interview request with President Harris, The USD Vista was sent a written statement through the USD media relations office. 

“We have a unique and important   opportunity at USD to channel  our  collective  talents,  explore   what  it means to be  human and advocate  for the dignity of all,  in   alignment with the recent message published by the  U.S. Conference of   Catholic  Bishops,” Harris wrote in the statement. “This includes opportunities for engagement and peaceful assembly. I also want to give credit to the event organizers for following the rules stated in USD’s Campus Assembly policy in  planning the event.” 

Harris’ statement reaffirmed USD’s policy regarding immigration enforcement. 

“USD does not actively participate in immigration enforcement,” the statement read. “Public Safety staff members do not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities, nor do they act on behalf of immigration authorities.” 

One day after the walkout, White House Border Czar  Tom   Homan announced the end of the ICE crackdown   in  the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The Department   of  Homeland Security (DHS) called the operation the largest immigration enforcement operation ever. The operation faced widespread   opposition in Minn. and across the country, from large protests to small demonstrations such as the march at USD. While a significant number of ICE agents have left Minn. since the operation ended, thousands remain, and many residents of the state are still concerned about the future. 

Meanwhile in Washington D.C., the government is in a partial shutdown over funding for DHS, with Democrats and Republicans in Congress unable to find a compromise on the controversial issue.