An Open Letter from University Of Tennessee Knoxville Alumni to the University President and Board of Trustees:

As proud alumni of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) we write to urge the administration to formalize procedures that preserve UTK’s independence from federal immigration enforcement. It is essential that UTK remains a safe environment to learn, teach, and work.

Recent immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis and elsewhere have created uncertainty for students, faculty, and staff, which disrupts the UTK academic mission. Recent federal policy changes have lowered longstanding barriers to immigration enforcement at schools, and some colleges and universities have already begun cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. Defining clear boundaries with federal agencies is needed for UTK to maintain its standing as a premier research institution that attracts top-tier global talent.

In this crucial moment, university leaders must make clear that our institutions will not serve as extensions of federal immigration enforcement. College and university presidents have both the authority and the responsibility to draw firm boundaries that protect academic freedom, free expression, and the trust that makes campus life possible. We urge you to make the following commitments:

1. Uphold Institutional Independence from Federal Policing

Publicly affirm that UTK will not enter into or renew agreements requiring campus police or university staff to carry out federal immigration duties. Clearly separating local campus safety from federal civil immigration enforcement helps maintain trust between the University of Tennessee Police Department (UTPD) and the student body.

2. Establish and enforce protocols on interaction with immigration enforcement

Clearly communicate that campus police and university staff are not authorized to assist with immigration enforcement or grant access to non-public areas without a judicial warrant signed by a court with jurisdiction. Implement a protocol requiring all federal immigration inquiries to be directed to a central authority, such as the Office of General Counsel.

3. Safeguard academic freedom, free expression, and privacy

Commit to keeping non-public directory information, student records, and personnel files safe from federal agencies unless compelled by a subpoena or judicial warrant. Protect the right to study, teach, research, and engage in constitutionally protected.