University of Chicago faculty unions have criticized the school’s administration for its ‘inaction’ against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids during a press conference, demanding more proactive measures to protect students and staff. The unions accused the university of avoiding responsibility amid the Trump administration’s Operation Midway Blitz, which targets illegal immigrants with criminal records in Chicago. Assistant professor Eman Abdelhadi, arrested last month for participation in anti-ICE protests, faces felony charges, highlighting the tensions within the university community.
During a press conference on Friday, representatives from five school unions spoke out against the university’s alleged ‘in’action’ regarding Operation Midway Blitz, the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement initiative targeting illegal immigrants with criminal records in Chicago. The operation has drawn intense backlash from some local residents, including University of Chicago assistant professor Eman Abdelhadi, who was arrested last month on felony charges at an anti-ICE rally. The university condemned violence but refused to address the professor’s arrest or the broader issue of ICE’s impact on the campus.
Faculty members like assistant professor Diana Schwartz Francisco emphasized that the violence and assaults by federal agents are not isolated incidents but are happening in their neighborhoods, right here. SEIU Local union executive vice president Jeffrey Howard criticized the university for its inaction against what he called a ‘fascist regime’ enacted through ICE raids, urging the institution to take a stand and educate future leaders. The union representatives also presented a list of demands, including barring ICE agents from entering buildings without judicial warrants and ensuring transparency about ICE activity on campus.
The University of Chicago reiterated its guidelines, stating that federal officers must present valid warrants to access non-public spaces on campus, though they also cooperate with outside agencies as required by law. Assistant Professor Francisco called the guidelines ‘patronizing and negligent,’ arguing that they fail to address the institutional problem of ICE activity and the need for proactive policies. Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin of ICE condemned the smears against federal agents, emphasizing the risks officers face in their duties.