Joint Statement on U.S. Customs and Border Protection Presence at UNC-Chapel Hill

We demand that UNC Chapel Hill ensure the safety of its students and staff in the face of domestic terrorism.

With the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) entering the Triangle, issues that seemed distant are now

close to home. CBP actions in Chicago, Portland, and Charlotte suggest that they know no limits. In Charlotte

this week, among the over 200 abductions under the auspices of legal arrest, they dragged a US citizen out of his

car after shattering his car window. Federal agents shattered car windows with the muzzle of a loaded assault

rifle. CBP agents entered a church and kidnapped people in front of their children. Earlier this year, CBP agents

murdered a person during a traffic stop. These actions mean that many of our UNC community members and

families are now living in fear, as simply “looking Latin” can lead to detention.

International policing, border control, and other parts of the surveillance apparatus exploit racism and

xenophobia to project the lens of risk onto innocent people. Under this kind of state, no one is safe, and we must

protect those most vulnerable to harm. Furthermore, we know that CBP targets community members who act to

protect each other, arresting people in clear violation of their rights to punish them through the judicial process.

Nevertheless, we as members of the UNC community, must speak out and act to protect one another.

University leaders must unwaveringly support students, staff, and faculty—yesterday’s tepid statement from

Interim Provost Dean is inadequate to meet the moment of fear and uncertainty. Interim Provost Dean reiterated

that while CBP can approach individuals in public spaces, they must have a judicial warrant to enter classrooms

and residence halls. The extrajudicial killing and kidnapping we have seen by CBP over the last month indicate

that they will continue to ignore the law as they have been given a blank check to do so.

We call on the University leadership to follow the example of North Carolina Superintendent Mo Green and do

all in their power to deny CBP access to our community. The Interim Provost Dean statement of compliance is

not enough--example after example has shown that CBP is acting above the law. The language of abiding by the

legal process is not enough. We also call on our colleagues and peers: educate yourselves about the obligations

of universities to protect staff, students, and faculty, and know your rights to make our classrooms, labs, and

office buildings safe spaces. We all must do our part to keep our community safe and whole.

UE150 Graduate Workers at UNC CH
TransparUNCy
AAUP CH
Sunrise Movement CH