Texas A&M is responding to criticism over an internal campus email sent last week by the school's provost Alan Sams. In the email, Sams said they were addressing "concerns related to immigration enforcement and the university," cautioning those on campus not to share "partial or inaccurate information" with officers and noting the university "does not proactively share information with immigration officials." But the part that got the biggest reaction was Sams asking students, staff and faculty to "immediately contact" university police if they "encounter a federal law enforcement officer on campus" or "see something suspicious."
That last line seemingly asking students and staff to report ICE officers drew criticism from conservatives who have long decried A&M's woke descent on many issues. "Texas A&M has always been considered a very conservative university, but I feel like the left and liberals have crept into Texas A&M and hijacked it on so many issues, especially this issue," says Christian Collins, founder of Texas Youth Summit. " In this situation, they're not following the law, and they're not willing to."
Critics point out that students and faculty should be watching for crimes or illegal activity on campus, not for federal law enforcement officers. "There are really heinous crimes like murder committed by illegal aliens, and they don't belong here," says Collins. "That is who this provost is protecting, and it's just sad to see it has really come to this."
The university is now doing some cleanup. New A&M System Chancellor Glenn Hegar released a statement acknowledging the email and clarifying, "University Police will always cooperate with any local, state, or federal law enforcement efforts."
Collins is encouraged by that statement. "I want to give (Hegar) the benefit of the doubt," he tells KTRH. "When he found about this, he put out a statement that Texas A&M ought to follow the law, and that's exactly the kind of approach that we should have."
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