Dayton’s Response to ICE’s Growth in Power 

Michael Oliss | Incoming News Editor

Photo Courtesy of Gabriela Gomez Gomez: “¿Y Mis Derechos?/And My Rights?”

The following is a quote from The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 Mandate for Leadership: “Prioritizing border security and immigration enforcement, including detention and deportation, is critical if we are to regain control of the border, repair the historic damage done by the Biden Administration, return to a lawful and orderly immigration system, and protect the homeland from terrorism.”

DAYTON – Federal officials indicated earlier this year that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may resume enforcement actions in schools, churches, and other previously protected places called “sensitive locations.” Ripples of fear and confusion have spread across Dayton’s immigrant communities – including the University of Dayton’s own backyard. 

This extreme shift in policy has been a long time coming. The foundations laid by Project 2025 were built on as soon as Donald Trump took office. Just hours after his inauguration concluded, Trump took the first step in “repairing damage.” He signaled a massive rollback of Biden-era guidance that discouraged ICE raids and immigration arrests in sensitive locations. The original procedures aimed to protect those spaces of worship and learning from immigration enforcement, recognizing their important role in community trust and public welfare. 

The order that revoked those protections was followed by a March 14 memo obtained by USA Today; in it, The Department of Justice directed local law enforcement officials to assist ICE in all ways to remove “Alien Enemies.” The memo encourages immigration officers to enter the premises of alleged undocumented immigrants without obtaining warrants, saying that those subject to ICE investigations, arrests, and deportations were “not entitled to a hearing, appeal or judicial review.” 

According to CBS News, President Trump’s DOJ is still facing over 250 lawsuits over his intensified immigration policies, with only a handful being resolved by the courts as of May 1.

Some states have even enacted their own procedures in helping ICE’s new initiatives. According to the New York Times, the Oklahoma State Board of Education approved a proposal that would require students to submit immigration status and other sensitive information before school enrollment. The governor of Oklahoma said he would share students’ immigration information with federal authorities. The proposal must still receive the approval of the Oklahoma Legislature. 

With confusion swirling and rumors running rampant, some public institutions around Dayton have made statements to reassure concerned community members. In a statement to Flyer News, Superintendent Dr. David Lawrence of Dayton Public Schools reassured families that “there have been no incidents in our schools and no modifications to our procedures.” However, he acknowledged the emotional toll sudden shifts in policy have for immigrant communities: “We understand that recent changes in immigration policy have caused concern for many families in the community.” Lawrence ended his email on a hopeful note, stating, “Our schools are safe, welcoming environments. We are proud to serve one of the most diverse student populations in the region.” He wrote that the district does not collect immigration status and would only release student information under court order. 

Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck who told Flyer News that deputies “do not have the authority to enforce federal civil immigration laws” unless there is a criminal offense or an active warrant. The jail may notify ICE if a person in custody is suspected of being undocumented, but he emphasized that “this process is not the result of any recent policy change, nor is it influenced by shifts in federal administration.” Despite the fear developing in the area, Streck said there are no changes related to the Sheriff’s Department’s immigration policies.

There was no comment on ICE’s new orders to disregard warrants in some cases. 

Dr. Natalie Hudson, Executive Director of the University of Dayton’s Human Rights Center, said the center has seen an increase in concern from campus and the local community surrounding the new immigration policies. She maintains the belief that the most beneficial thing for concerned students and locals is to learn about the issue and be aware of one’s rights. “The first step is always to educate yourself. Seek out good information, not rumors. Right now, information literacy is a responsibility for faculty and staff and students,” Hudson said. She also encourages people to actively engage and reach out to their representatives if they have concerns about current policies and practices. 

One of those concerned students is Abdul Alzahrani, a graduate student from Saudi Arabia who lives in Dayton with his wife and son. If his visa is revoked, his family would have no option but to relocate to another continent. “Simple as that,” Alzahrani said. “But what’s not simple is how deeply a child roots himself in a place. To my son, this is home. So the fear isn’t just legal. It’s emotional. It’s the idea that a policy change could uproot a life you’ve tried so hard to make stable.” 

Alzahrani told Flyer News that the protection of his family is paramount in the current political landscape. He does not attend protests and he tries to distance himself from controversial political movements. He cares about these issues, but he says his situation is too fragile to take risks. “I’ve chosen silence, not out of comfort, but out of caution.” 

Immigrants are not only being targeted for their status in the country, but what they say about it. Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia, made headlines this year when he was arrested by ICE after protesting his university’s involvement in the Palestine-Israel conflict.

According to NPR, hundreds of students been arrested in the last year over their pro-Palestinian sentiment. 

Luke O’Miachain is an Irish international studying law at UD; he has learned to be extra careful when discussing immigration and politics. “In Ireland,” O’Miachain says, “I would post about the Israel-Palestine conflict every day.” In recent months, he changed course and opted to keep his political opinions private, citing the recent arrests and investigations of pro-Palestinian students and advocates across American colleges as his reasoning. 

For Dayton’s immigrants, students, and educators, what once seemed like distant politics has become personal conflict. While the future of millions of immigrants remains unknown amidst a confusing shift in national policy, some around Dayton refuse to give in to fear. 

“It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but you can always voice your opinion,” Hudson says. “Concerned students have a right to call their representatives and voice their opinions every day.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: AI was not included in the use of this story. All art in for educational purposes only.