Since the rescindment of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals by the Trump Administration, the safety of recipients has been in question.

Monarchs on the Hilltop, a student organization described as a safe-space for DACA and undocumented students by founder Joseph Ramirez, hosted a discussion and Q&A with Associate Vice President of Campus Safety Scott Burnotes to address concerns with the undocumented community at St. Edward’s.

Texas’ S.B. 4 does not allow the school to write a policy preventing an officer to ask about documentation status, but such questions have never practiced by UPD. “UPD does not conduct immigration status investigations,” Burnotes said.

St. Edward’s has never “aligned” with the term “sanctuary campus” due to its legality, explained Burnotes. However, the university has “not changed any of [its] arrest policies due to S.B. 4,” Burnotes said.

Burnotes added that St. Edward’s has issued several statements of support for DACA students and do not keep a record of undocumented students. However, if an undocumented student is arrested, UPD must comply with state law and transfer arrest records to Travis County officials, who are then obligated to call Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

UPD conducts very few arrests a year and are most likely due to “high crimes” which Burnotes defines as murder, burglary and other related crimes. Other crimes considered “non-threatening” will be sent through a disciplinary process.