Student Government held a contested discussion Wednesday evening where the Senate passed a resolution in support for Deferred Action for Children Arrival (DACA) and undocumented students.

The resolution requested that Iowa State President Steven Leath and other university administrators “do everything to the fullest extent of their legal capabilities to ensure continued support for undocumented and DACA students and their success.”

The resolution roots from the concern that many students have regarding the current administration under President Donald Trump.

The resolution originally proposed that Iowa State declare itself a sanctuary campus, but was later amended to implore the Board of Regents reaffirms its commitment to providing the opportunity for all students, including undocumented and DACA students, to receive an education.

The definition of a sanctuary campus varies but can be summarized as a college or university in the United States that adopts policies to protect undocumented students and to not allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers onto campus without a warrant. It also includes the refusal of campus police to enforce immigration law.

Several senators and students raised concerns with different aspects of the resolution, citing the legality and morality of it. Some saw issues relating to federal funding.

“We already are a sanctuary campus, our law enforcement does not put any effort to check your legal status here at Iowa State,” Austen Giles, sophomore in public relations, said. “I know a question a lot of people have is where is the federal funding in this? Is it at risk?”

However, it was noted as a point of information that Iowa State is not breaking any laws.

Relating to specific wording of the resolution, one student raised concern that the senators were keeping students “under the rug” about what was going on regarding the resolution.

Sen. Maria Archevald rebutted this claim, assuring the students and senators in attendance that Student Government is “doing anything within our power to stand up for you and be on your side.”

Archevald said that while Student Government stands as a liaison between students and administration, the resolution is still only a recommendation being made to university officials.

Several amendments were made to the wording of the resolution, including a call to strengthen the phrase asking university administrators to “do everything in their power” to “do everything to the fullest extent of their legal capabilities.”

“I am a Ph.D. student and I read into words… everything in their power could mean nothing,” Vivek Lawana, the president of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate, said. “Everything in their power means everything or nothing.”

Juan Duchimaza, graduate student in chemistry, backed this sentiment.

“I would like this wording to reflect that to say… ‘we’re [Iowa State] not going to turn our backs on our morals just because it limits our power,’” he said.

Several students were in opposition to the resolution in fear that they believe it is not fair that their funding could be taken away because of the request for protection for the undocumented and DACA students.

One student said, “I don’t think it’s worth making a stand and risking university safety.”

Michael Norton, university counsel, said that he believes there is no indication for a risk of funding.

Sen. Eric Schultz said that something he had hoped to possibly see in the resolution was helping undocumented students pave their way to citizenship.

Sen. Carter McNew raised issue to this, however, by saying that if the university were to know that the students were undocumented, it would be illegal to then harbor them.

Sharing his family history, Anthony Chavez, junior in political science who also identifies as a second generation immigrant and conservative, described why he felt that Student Government should oppose the resolution. 

Chavez said he felt that he thinks the Senate is handling the situation in the wrong ways, and that the resolution is not going to do a lot. He said that he felt more attention should be put on resources to help undocumented students become citizens.

“We can do better,” Chavez said.”…[President Donald] Trump already announced his attack on sanctuary cities… as much as I want to help my cousins come to Iowa State, I don’t want to risk everything for everyone else.”

On the bill as a whole, Sen. Humair Nadeem questioned the motive of the resolution.

“A lot of these [undocumented] students are paying out of their pockets. They are putting money into the system,” Nadeem said. “Should we support them? Yes.

“If they’re not breaking any rules… I don’t see why there is a problem.”

After discussing the resolution for nearly three hours, it passed 27-1-1.

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Editor’s note: The original article incorrectly quoted a student who was not in attendance of the event. The student’s name has been removed from the quote. The Daily regrets this error.