EDUCATION

Bill to make sanctuary universities illegal moves forward in Indiana

South Bend Tribune Report
South Bend Tribune

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana Senate committee approved a measure Tuesday to make "sanctuary universities" illegal in Indiana — a move that would prohibit public universities from admitting undocumented immigrants with some exceptions, the Indianapolis Star reported.

Those who are protected under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program would still be allowed at universities under Senate Bill 423. But if President Donald Trump repeals that program, Indiana's public universities would no longer be able to allow undocumented immigrants to attend.

If Trump repeals DACA, the bill's author, Sen. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis, said lawmakers would have to re-examine the state's policies, the newspaper reported. Some senators said the bill was unnecessary because there are no "sanctuary schools" in Indiana.

The legislation would only apply to the state's seven public universities, but some senators suggested extending the measure to private universities.

In recent months, students at universities throughout the state and country have petitioned for the creation of sanctuary campuses, including Indiana University, IUPUI, DePauw University and Indiana State University, but so far they haven't been successful.

The University of Notre Dame's faculty senate passed a resolution in January calling for the president to designate the university as a "sanctuary campus," but the Rev. John I. Jenkins, university president, declined.

The Indiana Statehouse. File photo