On April 16, 2026, Millersville University’s Young Democratic Socialists of America called for transparency from MU’s administration regarding cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“We, the students of Millersville University, strongly condemn the actions by the current US presidential administration and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” an 800-signature anti-ICE YDSA petition reads. “This petition demands that Millersville University leadership commit to protecting our students and faculty through various actions.”
“We are out here today in protest for our students’ rights at Millersville,” YDSA co-chair Zach Weiser said. “In the event of ICE being on campus, we just want protection from students from ICE.”
In January, University President Daniel Wubah, in a schoolwide email, said “the safety, rights and well-being of our campus community remain among my highest priorities.” The message, although clarified that “students are not expected to answer questions [from ICE],” largely relied on notifying campus police about their presence with no promise of executive protections from the campus or university administration.
“If you encounter external law enforcement on campus, it is important to contact MUPD immediately,” the message read. “You may politely state, ‘University protocol requires that all law enforcement interactions be coordinated through University Police.’”
Weiser called the message “absolute bulls—.”
“Millersville police, effectively, if ICE comes knocking at the door with warrants, they will act in accordance with ICE,” Weiser said. “[Police Chief Bill Anders] said they will not sign the 287(g) agreement. However, there is no public statement that they won’t.”
287(g) agreements allow ICE to “delegate state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under ICE’s direction and oversight,” according to ICE. As Millersville University is a public institution, it cannot guarantee it will be a “sanctuary campus,” according to Wubah.
“It’s physically out of my hands,” Wubah said. “We do not have the authority.”
Wubah also said he is concerned that if protests continue with media attention, ICE may be alerted to the university.
The protest, which lasted three hours, had students, faculty, and alumni in attendance.
“We just want to know, you know, how do we get alerted?” communications professor and YDSA faculty adviser Dr. Greg Seigworth said. “We’re hoping to get clarification on some of the procedures, what kind of rights we have as students and faculty.”
“For me, the Millersville community is very important and I think students need to be able to feel safe in order to get quality education,” said senior Aether McLaughlin. “I feel like Millersville needs to do more to protect our international and immigrant students.”
MU Class of 1978 alumnus Charles Eberly said he is “proud of these students.”
“This is one of the worst times I think, in our nation’s history,” said Eberly. “I hope the university administration wakes up . . . if they have any courage, make a public statement saying they will not allow ICE on campus.”
