Columbia students, the university has sparked creativity by hosting a Border Patrol recruitment event
A battle broke out at Columbia University when lefty faculty and students rallied to hold an ICE recruitment event that the school dared to send.
The inflation was triggered by an ad this week on Columbia’s School of Professional Studies website dated Feb. 18. 18 US Customs and Border Protection Expo.
“Help protect the country,” reads the description of the event that seeks to recruit thousands for “critical positions,” as well as pledges from various Department of Homeland Security agencies to attend.
“This is a unique opportunity to learn more about our work and how you can contribute to it, have a positive impact on yourself, your community and your country.”
The retreat was fast and furious.
“Capitulation,” said journalism professor Helen Benedict on social media. “Columbia is signing up for ICE. Alumni are writing now. Cancel donations.”
“There is no end to corruption,” raged journalism professor Nina Berman.
Students and teachers quickly filled the school wanting to hold the event.
“This event undermines campus trust, makes segments of our community feel targeted or unsafe, and damages the image of the Columbia community by reinforcing the perception that we are part of a totalitarian state,” the faculty coalition wrote. “Silence will be read as consent.”
Ever since its Morningside Heights campus became the center of nationwide protests in support of Palestine in 2024, Columbia has found itself pulled between the demands of a left-leaning school community and growing pressure from government officials over concerns about antisemitism.
The university has faced a civil rights investigation and a threat from the Trump administration to cut $400 million in federal funding, prompting negotiations. It ended up reaching $200 million, and nearly 80 students were disciplined.
“Our university is not only complicit, but it encourages the employment of people like Border Patrol Agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection Officer Raymundo Guttierez, the two killers of Alex Pretti,” blasted the university’s Young Democratic Socialist of America chapter.
Columbia quickly folded, pulling the promotional page at the end of the day on Feb. 11. The event, however, will continue.
As universities across the country begin holding their spring fairs, many have faced pressure from students about government agencies such as the DHS invitation.
Earlier this week, the University of Maine removed CBP as a participating employer from its annual career fair after threats from students to boycott the event, the school’s paper reported.
And in Missouri, the feds pulled out of an upcoming Saint Louis University job fair after school administrators told them to expect student disruptions.
“As a result of that discussion, CBP has withdrawn and requested a refund,” a university spokesperson told Inside Higher Ed.
Columbia said the CBP recruitment event ended up on the school’s website through a third-party platform it uses to manage its job board — and that because of the backlash it has decided to only promote its events on the school’s website going forward.
“The university does not control or select employers found in the network . . .,” said a university spokesperson. “Job opportunities or job expo events made available on the platform should not be construed as sponsorship or endorsement . . .
