The University of Mississippi is the flagship public university for the state of Mississippi. We are our state’s standard-bearer for the highest ideals of a democracy, and the unalienable rights that belong to every person irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, socioeconomic status, or citizenship status. Indeed, our University Creed affirms this standard, demanding that we each have "respect for the dignity of every person."

The events following the recent election—which include a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment and behavior—call us to reaffirm these values and formally institute measures that ensure that the rights of all our community members will be protected. Therefore, we members of the University of Mississippi community call upon our campus leadership to immediately begin the process of making our campus a formal sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, their families, and related community members.

Specifically, we request the following:

● The University of Mississippi will publicly support the continuation of the DACA program by signing on to the “Statement in Support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program and our Undocumented Immigrant Students” currently signed by more than 300 universities and colleges across the country;

● The University of Mississippi will make clear that it will not tolerate actions by faculty, staff, or students targeting any faculty, staff or students on the basis of their residency status;

● The University of Mississippi will refuse all voluntary information sharing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)/ Customs and Border Protection (CBP) across all aspects of the university to the fullest extent possible under the law;

● The University of Mississippi will refuse ICE physical access to land owned or controlled by the university without a judicial warrant;

● The University of Mississippi will prohibit campus security from inquiring about or recording an individual’s immigration status; enforcing immigration laws or participating with ICE/ CBP in actions;

● The University of Mississippi will not use e-verify to the fullest extent possible under the law;

● The University of Mississippi will prohibit housing discrimination based on immigration status;

● The University of Mississippi will support undocumented and DACA students’ equal access to in-state tuition, financial aid, and scholarships; and will support the ability of qualified immigrant students to enroll and sustain their attendance, including by doing everything within its power to use institutional funds and scholarships to fill any gap created by discriminatory laws that exclude immigrant students from paying the in-state rate or accessing ordinary financial aid and scholarships on equal footing with other students;

● In the event of arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, or due to student reluctance to travel to or appear on campus, the University of Mississippi will have in place arrangements for online continuation of students’ degree programs;

● The University of Mississippi will commit to ongoing dialogue with the students, their families, and the community about additions to university policy and support for community efforts that protect immigrants who study, live, and work at the University of Mississippi.

Given the urgency of the situation, we ask that the University of Mississippi take these steps immediately.

As a leading public, flagship university, we do not take our core values or our responsibility to be a beacon of hope and progress to our society lightly. Proposed federal policy shifts fundamentally threaten our mission as an open academic institution. By moving to serve the immediate and long-term needs of the undocumented members of our community, we can preserve what we hold so dear to the University of Mississippi, fostering a welcoming community for all its members, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, socioeconomic status, or citizenship status.

Awaiting your action,

The Critical Race Studies Group, University of Mississippi
James M. Thomas (JT), Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Mississippi
Tiara Mabry - Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. & Students Against Social Injustice (SASI)
Allen Coon, Andrew Goodman Fdn Vote Everywhere Ambassador, University of Mississippi
Makala McNeil- Communications Director, University of Mississippi NAACP
Brittany Brown
Cemone NAACP
John Simpson, student
LaKayla Love, President of the Undergraduate Black Law Student Association (UBLSA)
Anneke Bakker
Tinecia Francis, African Caribbean Association
Adedibu Adesokan
Dominique Garrett-Scott, United Students Against Sweatshops Local 121
Students Against Social Injustice, USAS Local 121
Lauren Lawhead, Ole Miss sophomore
Leigha Ellis
Kayline Stone
Anne Cafer, U of MS, Sociology & Anthropology
Yolanda Kelly
Michael Martin Shea, alumni
John J. Green, Professor of Sociology, University of Mississippi
Ian M. Whalen, Graduate Assistant & Graduate Student Senator for the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Angel Morrow, Program Manager Sustainable Equity, LLC
Alaina Garland, JD Candidate 2018
Maegan Poland, Alumna, University of Mississippi
Taylor Delaney
Zachary Kagan Guthrie, Department of History
Chelsea Carter
Arin Kemp, Vice President of UM College Democrats
Dylan Lewis, Ole Miss student
Catarina Passidomo, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Southern Studies, University of Mississippi
Jennifer Stollman Winter Institute
Will Frierson UM Vote Everywhere
Sarah Sgro / MFA grad student
Emily Richmond, Graduate Assistant
Minjoo Oh, Sociology & Anthropology, University of Mississippi
Nadia Alexis, UM English MFA student
April Grayson, William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation
Katie Turner, Graduate Student, Department of English
Meredith Harper, alumna and instructor
Tim Earley, Visiting Assistant Professor of English,  University of Mississippi
Jaylon Martin, NAACP/ UM Fencing Club
Taylor Hall NAACP
Marty Cain, alumni
Jaz Brisack, Popular Resistance of Mississippi
Bri Warner, UM School of Law Student
Michelle Ayers, Graduate Student, Department of English
Kelly Slater, President of International & American Student Alliance (IASA)
Marcos Mendoza, Dept. of Sociology & Anthropollogy
Peter Ogunniran
Willa M. Johnson,  UM Dept of Soc and Anth
Shelby Pisarich, University of Mississippi student
Ryne Anderson, University of Mississippi student
Black Graduate and Professional Student Association
Rashad Collier, Grove Scholars
Grove Scholars
Andrew Dally, Graduate Student, Department of English
Yasmeen abdo student
Alysia Steele - Meek School of Journalism & New Media
Ja'kle Robinson University of Mississippi student
Jan Verberkmoes, Graduate Student, English Department
Jaime Harker, Professor of English and Director of the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies
Jamie Nelms, Adjunct Instructor, Dept of Sociology, Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning, and Center for Student Success and First Year Experience
Lindy Brady, Assistant Professor of English, University of Mississippi
Amy McDowell, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Sarah Huddleston, Graduate Student, English Department
Al Morse
Melissa Ginsburg, Assistant Professor of English, University of Mississippi
Adam Flaherty, President, UM College Democrats
Mary Berman, Graduate Student, Department of English
Diamond Presswood, Treasurer of the Undergraduate Black Law Student Association (UBLSA)
John Sonnett, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Mississippi
Gabriel Scala, PhD English '07
Robert McAuliffe, Graduate Asssistant
Erin Drew, Assistant Professor of English
Amelia Hanks, Meek School of Journalism & New Media
Ashna Sethi
Matt Kessler MFA English '17
Courtney Brent
Rick Roberts, Alumnus, U of M
Paige Ryder
Jorja Carter Student
Kristin Teston, Graduate Student, English Department
Kay Kay DeRossette, 2014 Alumna
Ryan D. Perry
Blake Weiss, 2015 Alumnus
Denae Bradley
Ana Velitchkova, Croft Assistant Professor of Sociology and International Studies, University of Mississippi
Mark Frezzo, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Mississippi
Kate Rydzak, alumna
Angela Green, Dept of Writing and Rhetoric
Caroline Bass- University of Mississippi Student
Rosa Salas, Ole Miss intl. Student
Jonathan Evans - BA '07, MA '12, University of Mississippi
Demetrius Plaxico, current student
Seth Johnson 1995 Alum
Kendall McDonald, Sustainability Fellow, University of Mississippi
Matthew Murray, Anthropology, University of Mississippi
Patricia DeFelice, BA Psychology Dec '16
Degnan Ronilo, Oxford Resident
Rosa Salas, Ole Miss Student
Kathryn McDonald
Beau Bettiga, Alumnus 2016
Alexus Mckorkle NAACP
Grace Gillespie, undergrad student
Khadijah McAlister
Kaitlyn Vogt, MA Southern Studies '15
Jordyn York
Ellie Campbell, Reference and Instruction Law Librarian, University of Mississippi
Jaime Cantrell, Visiting Assistant Professor of English, Sarah Isom Center faculty affiliate
Kiley O'Toole
Molly Kaplan
Erin Mauffray, 2012 alumna
Scarlett Andrews Martin, Class of 2011
Miguel Centellas, Croft Instructional Assistant Professor of Sociology and International Studies
Curtis Lehr - Argiflex
Caity Maddox, Southern Studies Graduate Student
Victoria De Leone, MA Southern Studies
Samuel Lisi, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, University of Mississippi
Allison Burkette, Associate Professor of Linguistics, University of Mississippi
Robbie Ethridge, Professor of Anthropology, University of Mississippi
Sarah Reininger, Student
Edward B. Sisson, Emeritus Faculty
Cecilia Criddle, Croft Institute of International Studies, Class of '16
Madeline Jewess
Ashley Howell, 2014 Alumna
Ashley Locke, 2014 alumna
Pablo Frias, Economics Student, Class of 2019
Anna Herd, '16 University of Mississippi Alumna
Bianca Martinez- Student
Paul Gandy, Dept of Art & Art History, University of Mississippi
Stephanie Grammar, former student
Stephanie Orsini Ole Miss Alumn
Jon Delperdang, community member
Alec Ashby, UM PoliSci
Lauren Hill, class of 2020
Ryan Grover UM College Democrats Director of PR
Mindy Rawls, BA Journalism 2010
Jarmarkus Watson, Men of Excellence
The University of Mississippi N.A.A.C.P.
Tysianna Marino, President, University of Mississippi N.A.A.C.P.
Rebecca Marchiel, Department of History, University of Mississippi
Ambriel Kinney, University of Mississippi student
Lacius Caddle
Rufus Leflore NAACP
Colby Allen, NAACP, University of Mississippi
Elise Fullwood and African American
Ian Whittington, Assistant Professor, Department of English
Damare Baker- Mississippi School for Math and Science
Thomas Jackson, Alumni
Matthew Archer, BA 2011
Chris Sapp, Assoc. Prof. of German
Dinorah Sapp, Intensive English Program
Brad Campbell, Director of the Writing Center
Parker Williamson, Adjunct Professor, English and Integrative Studies, Otterbein University [proud alum of Ole Miss]
Clarke Richard, Ole Miss Alumn '15
Peyton Smith, U of M, '11; JD Vanderbilt, '14
Caitlin Keith
Keelin Carr NAACP
Brenna Paola, University of Mississippi student
Southern Foodways Alliance
Margaret Gaffney Southern Studies
Peter Reed, Department of English
Jade Orellana, Publicity Chair of FEMISS
Carey Bernini Dowling, Instructional Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
Leta Rowan, Student
Deanna Graves Law Alumnas 2015
Natalie Marrar Estrada, 2009 Alumna
Avery Gault, Vice President of UM Pride
Kat Justice Leache, 2001 alumna
Meagan Barrie
Rosie Nelson, MA Sociology '11, MA Higher Education '14
Paige Hart
Morgan Lluy, UM Alumni
Rebecca Vorisek, undergraduate student
Amanda Nichols, J.D. '16
Andrew DeLeeuw, University of Mississippi MBA alumnus 2016
Lori Wolff, former UM employee
Amber Lowe-Woodfork Alumna Class of 2012, English Department
Megan Miller, 2015 alumna
Kimberly Austin, UM Alumna
Caroline Wigginton, Asst Prof., Dept of English
Logan Wilson, 2016 Alumnus of the University of Mississippi
Benjamin Strassman, 2016 Alumni
Jessica Richardson, BFA Imaging Arts '17, Dept. of Art & Art History
Camryn Cabral, undergrad at University of Mississippi
Julian Randall, Graduate Student, English Department
Caroline Canarios, Center for Population Studies
Justin Malachi Harris Cowling Recruitment and Retention Co-Chair UM NAACP
Kara Bledsoe, community member
Kelly Epperson
Joseph Duffy, B.A. PPL '14
Frank Alexander Estrada, University of Mississippi, Alumnus 2013
Kelly Shea
Susan M. Glisson, MA, SST, 1994
Boyd Harris, Ph.D '16  
Becca Walton, Associate Director - Projects, Center for the Study of Southern Culture / 2008 MA Alumna
Caroline Heller, University of Mississippi, English Department
Sarah Fortenberry, UM student
Catherine Albers, MA English
Tim Dolan, Office of National Scholarship Advisement
Jillian Cowart Robinson, Alumna, Class of 2015
Emilie Street, 2015 Alumna
Barry McCociner- Student
Michael Headden
Jules Myers, student
Center for the Study of Southern Culture
Jean-Marie Lalande, former postdoctoral research associate, University of Mississippi
EJ Edney Luckyday Programs
Sydney Anderson, social work student and writing center tutor
Wesley Gerard, International Studies student
Grace Miller, Secretary of College Democrats
Denesia Lee, Ole Miss freshman
Will Palmer, Graduate Student, Department of English
William Chase Young, Student of International Studies and Arabic
Debra L Northart, Ole Miss PhD, History, 1997
Jackie Kruljac, University of Mississippi sophomore
Carl Case, 2014 alumnus
Hunter Sudduth, Psychology Undergraduate and Writing Center Tutor
Andrea Donelson
Conor Dowling, Department of Political Science, University of Mississippi
Jillian Pecoraro, MA 2011
Trevor Ladner, Mississippi resident and Harvard student
Erica McGraw, Alumna Class of 2016, Croft Institute
Julie Grisham, New Yorker and lifetime Ole Miss fan
Tachovia "Janay" Hudson-Student
Abby Crunk, student
Chloe Hill, social work student
Toi Wilkes - Student
S Spencer, MS
Kenzie Tran, UM student
Regina Young, Graduate Student, Department of English
Gail Stratton, Lecturer in Biology and Unitarian Universalist Minister
Kell Kellum, UM Alum
Heather Allen, Assistant Professor of Spanish, University of Mississippi
Scott Iverson - Oxford Resident, Faculty Spouse,
Megan Loria, 2012 Alumna
Ellen Tichnell, 2015 alumnus
Mikaela Adams, Assistant Professor of History, University of Mississippi
Forrest Jenkins, alumna and UM Law School Housing Clinic
Jessica Heppard, Grad student
Kate Centellas, Croft Associate Professor of Anthropology
Cady Herring, Editor-in-Chief, The Ole Miss, Class of 2017
Cristina Delano, Assistant Professor of Spanish, University of Mississippi
Kris Belden-Adams, Assistant Professor of Art History
Faye Fernandes, UM School of Law alumna
Christal Davis, alumna
Derrick Harriell, MFA Director
Anne Quinney, Professor of French
Reid Black, Class of 2017
Robbie Murphey, 2012 Alumna
Bobby Joe Dale III, BA 2011
Maggie Crain, 2011 UM Alumna
Anne Corless, Class of 2013
Aiana Soronkulova-Woods, Alumna
Jennifer Cox, BBA Marketing Communications '10
Maren Snell
Anthony Green, 2012 Alumnus
Alex McLelland, 2012 Alumnus
Nic Hammond, 2002 alumnus
Sarah Kavanagh, University of Mississippi Student
Katie King
Jack Carey, Instructor, Department of History
Maurizia Taylor, student
Michael Aubrey, 2011 Alumnus
Victoria Ray, 2015 Alumna
Simone Delerme, UM Anthropology/Southern Studies
Martin Bartlett, B.A., '05
Savannah Kelly, Assistant Professor, University Libraries
Shine Choi, UM employee
Sarah Parrish, Graduate Student
Faison Graves Weiss, BA 2012
Susan R Grayzel, Professor of History
Jarod Roll, Associate Professor of History
Jessica Wilkerson, Assistant Professor of History and Southern Studies, University of Mississippi
Victoria Rose
Devin Jerome, UM B.A. History '17
Beth Sorensen
Trena Goggans, 1996 Alumna
Will Crockett, Meek School of Journalism & New Media Grad, 2016
Scott Thielen, graduate alumni
Anika Faruque
Sara Wood, UM Center for the Study of Southern Culture/SFA
Jason Conway

(New names will be added periodically)