In light of recent events, including the January 20 Executive Order concerning undocumented immigrants, the January 30th Executive Order calling for the deportation of international students, scholars, and staff participating in campus protests, and the detention of Columbia University recent SIPA MA graduate Mahmoud Khalil by the Department of Homeland Security, the UCI History Department expresses deep concern regarding the potential targeting of students, faculty, staff, and workers at UCI, whether on the grounds of political speech or immigration status. We call upon the university administration to uphold its longtime stated commitment to inclusive community and international scholarship by refusing cooperation with immigration enforcement to detain and deport international campus community members, by providing legal resources and aid to affected community members, and by establishing clear protocols that prioritize the safety and academic freedom of our entire campus.
Signed
The UCI Department of History
(Statement approved by faculty vote on 03/10/25: 23 Yes; 4 No; 3 Abstain.)
(Statement endorsed by staff, lecturers, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students on 03/11/25: 19 Yes; 0 No; 1 Abstain.)
This statement should not be taken as the position of the university, or the campus, as a whole.