University of Minnesota Unions Say University is Capitulating to Trump Admin, Rally Against Detention of International Student

On March 31, workers, students, and allies rallied together on the steps of Johnston Hall, which contains the office of the University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham’s, to protest what they criticize as the University’s failure to forcefully object to ICE’s recent abduction of a graduate student, and an onslaught of University policies limiting the freedom of speech across campus. By assembling in the hundreds, the crowd challenged the University’s policy that any gathering of more than 100 people must have a permit obtained two weeks in advance.

The rally was organized by AFSCME 3800, representing about 6,500 clerical workers across campus, and the Graduate Labor Union (GLU), representing about 4,000 graduate workers at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus. GLU, local 1105 of United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), won its first union contract earlier this year. 

Abaki Beck, a Ph.D. candidate in public health and president of GLU-UE Local 1105, kicked off the rally by denouncing Cunningham’s administration, stating that the University’s leadership “capitulated to the Trump administration to protect funding.” 

In a January 30 article published in the The Minnesota Daily, Jake Ricker, a University spokesperson, is quoted as stating that, “While the University does not have responsibility or an active role in federal officials enforcing federal law or court processes, as a public university and employer, we cannot ignore federal court orders or subpoenas.” Some students and workers have criticized this and similar statements as an indication that the university doesn’t plan to aggressively fight the Trump administration rounding up of students.

Beck went on to characterize Cunningham’s campus-wide email on March 28, one day after the abduction of a graduate student by ICE, as “insufficient” and delayed, “after violence already occurred.” In that email, Cunningham stated, “The University had no prior knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities before it occurred.” She called the news “distressing” and offered mental health support to those disturbed by it, but critics say she did not condemn the detention itself or publicly outline steps to avoid this kind of action in the future. ICE claims the student was detained for a prior incident that had nothing to do with campus protests. 

Max Vast, a clerical worker and president of AFSCME 3800, slammed recent policies prohibiting departments’ ability to publish statements without administration approval, and bans on public assembly of over 100 people, if that group doesn’t have a permit. According to Vast, these actions constitute an “anti-democratic power grab,” because it places limitations on students’ and workers’ rights to make political speech and exercise power. 

The union presidents went on to list a series of demands from the two campus unions: an immediate meeting with AFSCME 3800 and GLU-UE Local 1105; a written policy supporting non-citizens students with legal representation and financial support in deportation proceedings; a declaration that the University of Minnesota campus is an official sanctuary campus; the halting of layoffs for one year; rapid expansion of know-your-rights trainings; good-faith negotiations with campus unions; the repeal of policies that limit freedom of speech and assembly on campus; the assurance of no cuts to cultural departments; and a policy of refusing to collaborate with immigration officials, including refusing to share information, names, or nationalities of students.

Cunningham’s office did not immediately respond to a request to comment on these demands, or respond to the concerns of protesters. 

Beck argued that the university’s recent policies limiting assembly and speech on campus are a direct retaliation against campus protests for Palestine solidarity activism, including the encampments from last spring. “This is targeted particularly against Palestinian activism, to terrorize workers and students into silence,” Beck said. 

Mira Altobell-Resendez, an AFSCME 3800 board member and activist with the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, is one of the arrested protesters from the encampments last spring. Altobell-Resendez criticized Cunningham’s March 10 statement in a campus-wide email that the university is “actively working with” the Anti-Defamation League, which released a “report card” accusing the University of Minnesota of antisemitism. The ADL is increasingly facing criticism for cozying up with the Trump White House, and a top executive resigned in early January over the ADL CEO’s praise of Elon Musk, according to reporting from Jewish Currents. Leaked audio shows that staff members of the ADL objected to the ADL leadership’s attempts to equate white supremacist extremism with criticism of Israel, according to a March 2023 report from Jewish Currents.   

Critics argue that the organization is not a fair arbiter of what constitutes antisemitism, and contributes to the criminalization of mobilizations in solidarity with Palestinians, putting international students who are already being targeted at even greater risk, and undermining basic tenets of free speech. Altobell-Resendez said that “international students are keeping their heads down to avoid being the next Mahmoud Khalil,” the Columbia University graduate student who was abducted by immigration authorities after leading campus protests in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

However, even during a time of uncertainty and fear, many speakers at the rally emphasized the importance of not allowing intimidation tactics to stop workers from organizing, speaking out, and assembling. Altobell-Resendez concluded their speech saying, “We can’t rely on Cunningham or the regents, but we can rely on each other. And that’s why I’m active in my union. We keep us safe.” 

Greyson Arnold, a transgender student from the southern United States studying family social science and transgender identity, said that he chose the University of Minnesota because of the state’s reputation as a safer haven for transgender individuals’ civil rights and ability to conduct their research, now under threat as the Trump administration threatens to cut funding to public universities engaging in “diversity, equity, and inclusion” programs. Arnold noted it was also Trans Day of Visibility, saying, “Visibility without protections is a trap.” 

Nick Estes, an assistant professor in American Indian Studies, criticized the ban of departmental statements without administration approval and its infringement on basic academic freedoms. Estes also made a connection between the war in Gaza and its reverberations within domestic policy. The same powers facilitating “the annihilation of every university in Gaza, are now dismantling universities at home,” he said.

“The war has come home,” Estes underscored.

During the rally, one of the organizers announced to the crowd the news that a student from the University of Minnesota in Mankato was detained by ICE. Beck warned the crowd that these attacks “begin with activists and non citizens, but they will not end there.” 

“Caving into terror attacks will not protect federal funding,” Beck said. “We call on the University of Minnesota to choose a different path.” 

Isabela is the Senior Associate Editor for Workday Magazine.