UGBC affirmed its solidarity with immigrant and international students amid “violent behavior” from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a statement Thursday morning that followed months of student pressure.
“We stand in solidarity with immigrant, international and other affected student communities in light of the fear caused and violence spread by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” UGBC wrote in an Instagram post.
The statement comes more than five months after an ICE vehicle was seen outside St. Ignatius Church on Sept. 6. Although no enforcement activity occurred on campus, the incident sparked sustained student advocacy urging UGBC to denounce the agency and immigration operations.
UGBC President Cameron Kulbieda, LSEHD ’26, referenced the Sept. 6 ICE sighting in a message to The Heights regarding Thursday’s statement.
“Following the presence of the ICE vehicle near our campus, my priority was to take tangible action to support affected populations within our student body,” Kulbieda wrote in a statement to The Heights.
In October, UGBC elected to release a resource guide for students impacted by ICE.
“In light of current events impacting immigrant, international, and other affected student communities, UGBC reaffirms its commitment to fostering a campus environment where every student feels safe, valued, and supported,” UGBC wrote in the post.
That post, however, did not mention ICE or the Sept. 6 spotting, drawing some criticism from students. And while Thursday’s statement stopped short of “explicitly condemn[ing] ICE’s presence,” as those students had requested, it marked the first time UGBC has referenced the agency by name in an official statement.
In late October, UGBC senators passed a limited initiative to issue a statement condemning ICE by a 23–3 vote. In the following weeks, however, the Senate leadership—composed of Vice President Reagan Marino MCAS ’26 and three Senate committee chairs—struck it down.
Kulbieda said Thursday’s statement represented the rational next step after UGBC focused on resource-based support last semester.
“Because UGBC Leadership has always and will always prioritize the support of all students on our campus, a statement felt like the right next step at this time,” Kulbieda wrote.
She added that increased student concern, coupled with escalating deportation efforts—such as those in Minnesota—influenced the timing of the release.
“Amidst the escalation of ICE’s violent behavior nationwide and increasing student concern, I recognize that students were looking for more explicit communication of our solidarity,” wrote Kulbieda.
Some students, however, are still frustrated by the length of time it took for UGBC to issue a formal statement.
“I don’t think you have the right to say ‘as always ugbc is here to work with you, advocate for you, and support you’ when you REFUSED to make a statement and are now making one six months late,” commented one student under the statement’s Instagram post. “You are no resource.”
Correction (2/13/2026, 2:55 p.m.): This article was corrected to reflect that the Sept. 6 spotting of an ICE vehicle near campus was five months ago, not six. An earlier version of this article also incorrectly identified Kulbieda as a part of Senate leadership when she is not.
