Dear President Hamilton,

As alumni of NYU, we stand in solidarity with the faculty and urge you to immediately declare NYU a Sanctuary Campus.

We welcome your recent statement of support for members of the NYU community whose immigration status is in jeopardy and applaud the university's efforts to protect all who live, work, and study at NYU. However, we believe that it is with the utmost urgency that NYU honor the unanimously passed Tenured Faculty Senate Faculty Council Resolution of December 15, 2016 for NYU to become a Sanctuary Campus.

Considering Donald Trump’s recent Executive Order, we firmly believe that the university must act quickly to defend the numerous students, faculty, and staff who are now under direct and imminent threat as a result of the “Muslim Ban.” The “Muslim Ban” and threats against undocumented individuals directly endanger the diversity, inclusivity, and academic freedom that our alma mater is known for around the world. NYU has a responsibility to protect members of the university community who are at risk as a result of these recent actions.

As proud NYU Alumni, we call on NYU to fulfill our university motto of Perstare et Praestare, to Persevere and to Excel, by taking a public leadership position as the global network university to send a message to the students, staff, faculty, and community that NYU actively defends civil liberties and fundamental rights on our campuses and beyond. We call on you to immediately declare NYU a Sanctuary Campus to affirm NYU’s commitment to uphold the key values of the University by dedicating the necessary resources to actively protect students, staff, workers, and faculty.

By becoming a Sanctuary Campus, NYU would pledge to protect and defend those targeted by President Trump’s Executive Order by taking the following actions: 

● Not to voluntarily share any information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or other federal agencies to the fullest extent possible under the law;

● Not to allow ICE physical access to any buildings or land owned or controlled by the university to the fullest extent possible under the law;

 ● To train campus security staff to respond to federal agents seeking access; and instruct security staff to refuse to participate in the actions of any agency that deals with immigration regulation;

● To prohibit campus security from inquiring about or recording any information regarding an individual’s immigration status;

● To prohibit all housing discrimination based on immigration status or religious affiliation, and provide emergency housing for noncitizen students who cannot go home during academic breaks;

● To provide access to competent and expanded legal support for noncitizen, Muslim, and LGBTQ students and staff, those with undocumented family members, and others rendered vulnerable by federal, state, or city orders that contravene the University’s commitment to diversity, freedom, and equality;

● To expand access to financial aid for noncitizen students, especially those who might be affected by a repeal or change in DACA;

● To commit ongoing resources to create and sustain on-campus working groups to assess and address the evolving needs of undocumented students and staff, students and staff of color, students and staff with disabilities, LGBTQ students and staff, and otherwise marginalized students and staff;

● To distance the University’s investments from anti-immigrant measures by divesting from companies or funds that stand to profit from these measures, such as private prisons;

 ● Pledging not to voluntarily share any information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or other federal agencies to the fullest extent possible under the law;

 ● Pledging not to allow ICE physical access to any buildings or land owned or controlled by the university to the fullest extent possible under the law.

As alumni who span the globe, we look to our alma mater as a leading and innovating institution and remain resolute in our commitment to NYU’s values. We believe that it is critical that NYU stand up and support all those of the NYU community made vulnerable by these recent events. Action is essential to send an important message of support to our students, staff, and community members, and to secure their protection in the face of an uncertain future. Declaring NYU a Sanctuary Campus affirms our commitment to keeping NYU an open university to the world.

 Signatories:

 Carly A. Krakow, NYU Gallatin ’16 and Bailey Theado, NYU Gallatin ‘15