ICE could come to Pitt, but University and community organizations are working to protect citizens

After ICE presence has increased in other cities across the nation, some Pittsburgh citizens are worried that Pittsburgh could be the next ICE hotspot. 

In Minneapolis, conflicts regarding ICE have erupted, especially after two American citizens were killed on camera. On Jan. 29, Oakmont resident Jose Flores was arrested by ICE approximately a 25-minute drive from Oakland. On Feb. 22, a Sewickley man — also 25 minutes from campus — was arrested by ICE. 

These neighboring events, alongside various reports from Frontline Dignity of ICE sightings across Allegheny County, have caused fearful reactions throughout the greater Pittsburgh community.

As of a 2025 policy from the Department of Homeland Security, ICE officers are allowed to enforce the law in public buildings on university campuses. In a statement to The Pitt News, the University confirmed that no federal immigration officers have visited campus, and the University does not have any kind of agreement with ICE. However, the University said federal agents are allowed in Pitt’s buildings. 

“Certain state and federal agencies do have the ability under the law to conduct inspections — sometimes unannounced — of facilities that fall under their jurisdiction,” the University said. “This includes Pitt facilities and other buildings or spaces on and around campus.”

If federal law enforcement officials did come to campus, according to the University, Pitt police would respond to the scene to validate credentials and ascertain the purpose of the officers’ visit. The University said Pitt police would review documentation provided by any federal officials.

“If they do not have appropriate documentation — including, for example, a warrant — UPPD officers will consult with their supervisor who, in turn, may consult with the Office of University Counsel and other University offices as needed for guidance on how to best respond,” the University said.

At this point, if a student were to be detained by federal officials, the Pitt Division of Student Affairs would be notified to contact the student’s emergency contacts. If an employee was detained, Pitt police would be tasked with notifying the head of the employee’s Responsibility Center, according to the University. The University said the Responsibility Center will then notify the employee’s emergency contacts.

“We understand the concerns coming from our Pitt community, and we will continue to provide updates and information as they are available,” the University said.

University organizations call for proactive ICE protocol

In November, Pitt’s Student Government Board passed a resolution calling on the University to protect students, faculty and staff from potential visits from ICE on campus. Since then, University leadership and the University Senate have both had discussions with SGB representatives about how to move forward with their resolution. 

Jared Stonesifer, a University spokesperson, said a message shared on Feb. 20 from Clyde W. Pickett, vice chancellor for institutional engagement and wellbeing, is evidence of the shared commitment to these communal protection goals.

“We have discussed with SGB how their requests support student populations, including our international students, and we provided methodologies central to this effort,” Stonesifer said. “We continue to work together with SGB to co-develop opportunities providing clarity and transparency amidst rapid change.”

The Pitt administration also recently faced backlash for a Customs and Border Protection recruitment event listed on the Handshake career site. Handshake’s virtual event policy requires universities to approve any events before they appear for students, according to Handshake’s website. 

Stonesifer said Pitt’s process of reviewing events before they are posted is based on protecting students from deceptive listings. 

“Our review process is designed primarily to protect students from fraudulent or misleading opportunities while still ensuring students have access to a broad range of post-graduation pathways,” Stonesifer said. “Because Handshake operates as a shared platform, some events and opportunities may be visible to students as part of the system’s broader network rather than through a posting initiated directly by the University.”

ICE sightings in Pittsburgh

In an interview with The Pitt News, Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor confirmed his prior position and said Pittsburgh will not cooperate with ICE agents in the city.

“We will not cooperate. We’re not currently, and we won’t,” O’Connor said. “If they are reaching out for support, we won’t cooperate.”

During a speech to the Detroit Economic Club on Jan. 13, President Donald Trump threatened to cut funding to “sanctuary cities” that do not cooperate with ICE. O’Connor said he is aware of the president’s threat, but his main concern is protecting the people of Pittsburgh.

“I think mayors should do the right thing and support the residents, and that’s what we’re doing,” O’Connor said. “If that threat happens, then we’ll figure out funding in other forms. But for us, knowing that your rights are protected in Pittsburgh is more important to me than a grant from the federal government.”

O’Connor nodded to multiple instances in Pittsburgh that have included people being taken out of their cars and ICE officers then abandoning those cars in the road.

“We know that there have been people that have been taken by ICE in the city. We do get reports,” O’Connor said. “And I do know that at one point ICE had taken somebody out of their [vehicle]. There were a number of vehicles, and they just left vehicles in the middle of the roads.”

In early February, Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando discussed the issue of leaving unmanned vehicles on the road with the Department of Homeland Security — which ICE operates under — according to O’Connor.

“Our chief of police did reach out to [DHS] to say, ‘Look, this is not protocol,’” O’Connor said. “‘If you do something like that, you’re also responsible for the car that you had taken somebody from.’ So we do know that there have been some incidents in the city of Pittsburgh.”

Community tensions high

ICE activity may also be impacting other parts of the Pittsburgh community. As of Feb. 4, Casa San Jose, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting and advocating for the Latinx community in Pittsburgh, moved all operations online indefinitely. 

Monica Ruiz, executive director of Casa San Jose, said the move was due to a general feeling of concern for the safety of their clients and staff.

“Based on the current political climate, it is evident that it is not safe for communities of color to travel to work, school, church, grocery stores or nonprofit organizations,” Ruiz said. “We are currently working to implement stronger security protocols so that people are safe in our space. We do not know yet when we will be back in person.”

ICE’s presence in the city is also affecting some on Pitt’s campus. Avery Brown, a sophomore political science major and public relations chair of Pitt’s Black Action Society, said BAS cancelled an event on Feb. 6 after seeing potential ICE activity in Pittsburgh on social media and hearing about planned ICE protests for that same date.

The Feb. 6 BAS event was supposed to be a small business pop-up event highlighting local Black-owned businesses. Brown said cancelling an event is always upsetting, but the BAS board wanted to prioritize their members’ wellbeing.

“The programming chairs decided that while the event is such a huge opportunity, it really wasn’t worth risking the safety of students on campus, particularly because the event was hosted in the William Pitt [Union],” Brown said. “We weren’t sure — because that’s a public building — if ICE could come in and then have a whole group of students that they could potentially detain wrongfully.”

The movements of ICE and the effects they have caused on Pittsburgh institutions have brought a general feeling of alarm to Pittsburgh residents. Ruiz said those in the greater Pittsburgh area are feeling fear after ICE agents have reportedly been seen more around the city.

“People are living in fear. It is heartbreaking to see our community in so much fear and suffering,” Ruiz said. “I would like for people to understand that this is not normal. We cannot normalize armed masked agents patrolling our streets, kidnapping people.”

Brown acknowledged that talking about frightening topics is hard, but such conversations bring the community together and help them grow stronger.

“Don’t let the fear hold you down, don’t let it take away your joy or take away your fun,” Brown said. “Just be aware of it and adjust properly to it, but keep that community.”