Durbin Meets With Illinois Higher Education Leaders To Discuss Impact Of “Operation Midway Blitz” And Meeting The Moment For Their Students
The meeting follows the Trump Administration’s militarized immigration enforcement activities and National Guard deployment to Chicago
WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with the University of Illinois (U of I) System President Tim Killeen and University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda to discuss the impact of President Trump’s “Operation Midway Blitz” and militarized immigration enforcement efforts on student and school safety, as well as how UIC is continuing to step up for its students through the uncertainty and fear.
The meeting follows reporting on a viral video which shows a pair of women being taken into custody on the edge of UIC’s campus. Federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) officers have also been documented conducting arrests outside of several Chicago Public Schools, including elementary schools.
“President Trump is using the city of Chicago and its residents as pawns in his political games, spreading fear into the hearts of our communities with his cruel, militarized immigration raids,” said Durbin. “This is especially true of raids and arrests carried out on or near our campuses and our schools, which have done nothing but disrupt classes and traumatize students. I welcome the opportunity to speak with U of I and UIC leadership on how we can safeguard our institutions of higher learning from federal encroachment and ensure campuses remain a beacon of academic freedom.”
Durbin, President Killen, and Chancellor Miranda discussed the impact of the Trump Administration’s enforcement actions in Illinois and how students are fearful that—due to their appearances—they will be subject to immigration enforcement. Despite these challenges, UIC students continue to benefit from a worldclass education at an institution devoted to supporting its diverse student population, workforce development, research, and innovation in the state. This fall, UIC saw its largest enrollment in history with an estimated 5.8 percent increase from last year.
A photo of the meeting is available here.
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