Last Saturday, more than 20 students, faculty and 5C alumni gathered in Claremont McKenna College’s (CMC) Kravis Center for an event hosted by The Open Academy to discuss the mobilization of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Throughout the 90-minute discussion, participants shared their anxieties about the future of federal law enforcement.
Some participants said that local leaders and activists are not doing enough to stand up to ICE activity in the United States.
Participants also talked about the recent deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Alex Bartholomew CM ’28, who is a resident of Minnesota, shared his experience witnessing the presence of ICE in his state.
“I remember walking around the city and seeing the community being flatten[ed],” Bartholomew said in an interview with TSL following the discussion. “I have friends who work at restaurants that are having to close for certain hours because people are scared to come out.”
Many attendees also shared that they were “outraged” by the current political climate in the country. Several participants noted that many people are afraid to speak out against ICE because of controversy and censorship. In response, some commented on the importance of open discourse during times of political turmoil, especially among college students.
“Being at a place like Claremont McKenna College … you have a lot of power,” Bartholomew said. “You’re also insulated. That helps me feel comfortable [to] speak out and have these types of discussions.”
Many professors shared similar sentiments and were pleased to see students involved in tough, critical dialogue on campus.
“I thought it was very interesting and productive,” Ioannis Evrigenis, director of The Open Academy and government professor at CMC, said in an interview with TSL.
Evrigenis also said that he hoped to see more young people show up to partake in the discussion.
At the conclusion of the event, students expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to discuss the impacts of ICE and immigration, highlighting its importance for the community at the 5Cs. Bartholomew echoed these sentiments, explaining how vital it is to keep conversations surrounding ICE alive.
“I think it’s good to see a group of people talking about what’s going on in Minnesota,” Bartholomew said. “I have a lot of family who are talking about it all the time and friends who are impacted by it, but, day-to-day, on campus … we don’t hear a lot about what’s going on. So, seeing a group of people getting together to discuss it … I think it’s pretty important.”
Open Academy Program Assistant Shivom Parihar CM ’28 said he hopes more students will attend and contribute to future discussions, regardless of controversy. This Saturday, The Open Academy will welcome Notre Dame professor and scholar Ascher Kaufman and CMC professor Bou Nassif to lead conversations about Lebanese, Jewish and Hebrew nationalism during the 1982 invasion of Lebanon at the Kravis Center.
“We’re looking forward to having a lot of good speakers come in and represent a diversity of views,” Parihar said. “We’re looking forward to talking about more controversial things. Hopefully, more people will show up.”
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