QuASA demands University defend undocumented students

The group’s logo was removed from a post promoting a march and rally for undocumented students.

By SEAN CAMPBELL
The Student Union.
The Queer and Ally Student Assembly demanded the University ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials from campus, make a public statement of support for the undocumented community and inform students of immigration officials who enter campus, in an Instagram statement Sunday. (Gina Nguyen / Daily Trojan file photo)

The Queer and Ally Student Assembly’s logo was removed from a post promoting Thursday’s “Defend Our Community” march and rally that advocated for protections for undocumented students at USC.

In a statement to the Daily Trojan Monday, QuASA wrote that they were told University administrators said they would have “long-term consequences” for leaving their logo on the Instagram post. However, according to the statement, the sentiment came from the Undergraduate Student Government executive cabinet rather than the Office of Student Life.

In a statement to the Daily Trojan, USG president Brianna Sánchez wrote that because QuASA was the only University-affiliated group sponsoring the protest, they would have been held liable for any incidents or damage caused by the protest. The protest was organized by USC Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation and USC Students for Justice in Palestine — both advocacy groups not affiliated with the University — among other groups.


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“Given QuASA’s role as a representative entity within the greater student government, we felt it was important to make them aware of this,” Sánchez wrote. “All USG operations, whether involving events, general body meetings, or gatherings — regardless of their nature, content, or size — must abide by this requirement.”

In an Instagram statement Sunday, QuASA asked the University to defend and support undocumented students. In the statement, QuASA demanded the University ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials from campus, make a public statement of support for the undocumented community, give resources for the protection of undocumented students — including the creation of a DREAM center — and inform students of immigration officials who enter campus.

QuASA also wrote that the University complying with ICE activity showed “complicity with the ongoing fascist and racist criminalization of undocumented individuals.”

The statement was sponsored by the Black Student Assembly, Latine Student Assembly and Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment. 

The University did not respond to the Daily Trojan’s request for comment on the demands in time for publication.

Sánchez wrote that it is important for students to have free speech rights, but that the collaboration with unrecognized student organizations could have led to “potential liability” for QuASA.

“Our communication was focused on this concern, rather than the nature of the event or its participants,” Sánchez wrote. “USG’s mission is to represent and support the diverse perspectives of all students at USC, ensuring that everyone feels heard and valued within our community.”

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