The University of New Mexico is doubling down on its immigration-related initiatives, launching a new “Immigration Working Group” just as existing university policies already restrict how federal immigration agents can operate on campus.
The newly announced group will coordinate resources, messaging, and campus-wide responses to immigration issues, building on earlier efforts such as “Know Your Rights” trainings and immigration response protocols implemented in 2025.
But the latest move is part of a broader pattern—one that effectively insulates individuals from federal immigration enforcement while expanding institutional support regardless of legal status.
UNM’s own published guidance states the university supports students, staff, and faculty “regardless of their documentation status,” and outlines detailed instructions on how to respond if agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) appear on campus.
Under those policies, ICE agents are barred from entering large portions of campus—including classrooms, residence halls, and offices—without a judicial warrant, even though immigration officials frequently operate under administrative warrants that do not require a judge’s signature.
Students are also explicitly told they can refuse entry to law enforcement officers who do not present a valid judicial warrant, and staff are instructed to route agents through university police or legal counsel rather than engage directly.
The university further states it has “no obligation to take affirmative steps to advance enforcement of federal immigration law,” a position that appears to signal a deliberate effort to limit cooperation with federal authorities.
While UNM maintains it will comply with lawful warrants and does not allow interference with law enforcement, its layered response protocols—requiring documentation, internal reporting, and legal review—create what some see as procedural hurdles that slow or complicate enforcement actions.
Now, with the creation of the Immigration Working Group, the university is formalizing and expanding those efforts.
According to the announcement, the group will develop recommendations on immigration-related policy, communications, mental health support, and campus interactions with law enforcement—areas that already include guidance on responding to ICE presence.
University officials say the initiative is meant to ensure a “coordinated response” and provide accurate information to students and staff navigating immigration issues.
The program reflects a growing trend among publicly funded universities to adopt policies aligned with open-borders immigration advocacy—prioritizing institutional support systems over cooperation with federal enforcement.
The debate ultimately centers on where universities should draw the line: between supporting students and staff, and facilitating the enforcement of federal law. With UNM now expanding its immigration infrastructure, that question is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
Federal law supersedes UNM’s policy.
New Mexico is again being duoed by UNM, seems more and more like tax dollars being used fraudulently ,or wasted by the brilliant- lack of common sense leaders of UNM! If a foreign student is forthright and has followed the immigration law they have no worries. Sounds like UNM might be hiding something. Just sayin..
Why have illegal immigrants become more important than American citizens?
Because the self- loathing left hates America and Americans
UNM is disgusting as our state government. Wait until something happens to a student at UNM by an illegal then what will they say?
The illegals are called illegal because they broke our immigration laws. They broke the law.
I agree with the comment when did the illegal become more important than the American…it just makes me crazy…would we have the same privilege in other countries???? We would be jailed, maybe killed for defying their immigration laws…
Just because one commits an illegal act does not make one an “illegal”. I would bet that somewhere along your life you have jaywalked, driven faster than the speed limit, maybe even driven through a red light at 3am when no one is around. That does not make you an “illegal.” For most, crossing the border is/was a misdemeanor.
That is and has been the term used for illegal aliens in this country for many many years. It is a descriptive term, stop propagandizing it.
Stop making excuses for illegal aliens who crossed our border ILLEGALLY. There is no comparison between an American citizen who commits an infraction and a person who makes deliberate illegal entry into the USA, and then takes our hard earned taxes. Some of these illegals have killed people, too!!!!
I also don’t think UNM is allowed to ICE what to do considering they are a TAXPAYER FUNDED UNIVERSITY. I am ashamed to say I graduated from UNM.
UNM is not allowed to tell ICE what to do…
Stop the federal funding to UNM
Exactly, it’s a marxist stronghold. I remember decades ago walking through the history department and the Latin America history professors had images of their hero Che Guevara in their offices.
INM is buying the hand that feeds it– federal funding.
If an illegal rape or kill a UNM student, UNM would defend the student. American citizens are not worth even thinking about buy NM government and UNM. We aren’t important unlike the illegals.
Not only are the lefties here crooked, they’re stoopid, too. No wonder people call this place “North Mexico.” This has always been a sanctuary state.🙄
as an Alumni at UNM with a professional degree (late 70’s) that demanded adherence to both Federal & state regulations, statutes even if conflicts between Federal or State “existed or were oppositional to personal beliefs” licensure was dependent following the strictest of the “rules”.
This latest “policy” of pick & choose “points” of a progressive liberal leftist platform of communist ideology settles the debate on whether to financially support a higher educational institution. no more “dimes” given until a moderate slightly right view supporting the constitution of the United States is implemented. Those here on valid & vetted student or work visas are welcomed & encouraged to stay as contributing members of our society.
Cut out federal funding to UNM!
The federal government should be pulling all sorts of federal dollars out of NM for defiance on every front but we are so electorially unimportant that we never get the attention other blue state dopes like CA, WA, IL, MI, NY, ad nauseum get.
a judical warrant is not needed by ICE to conduct their duties. the lawyers at UNM know that, but they also know the public has no idea and encourage the public to obstruct law enforcement. those obstructing law enforcement need arrested. that starts at the governors office, goes into the state legislature and is the same for the chancellor and all staff at UNM. these people act like entitled fools and need to be dealt with. we have enough lawlessness in NM without college educated morons at our university acting like spoiled children. tenure needs to be stopped. subversive professors need removed from the classroom and replaced with veterans who can teach not brainwash the next generation .
UNM versus ICE. ICE wins..
What the university is doing is encouraging the individual to break the law and then they suffer the consequences. Why would they take such an arbitrary position?
My money’s on ICE
Cancel Federal funding . Send the illegals home . Use the empty classrooms to house OUR homeless .
Don’t send your kids to UNM. Have them attend a non-Marxist college. This anti-ICE BS need to stop on our college campus.
This from an institution that offers a credit course on Bad Bunny’s fashions. Soon those folk with Studies degrees working at the fast food drive ups will be able to tell your all about him while you’re waiting!