500 signatures reached
To: Jefferson Administrators
Customs and Border Protection Out of Jefferson
As members of the Jefferson community, we are urging the administration, specifically the Career Services Office, to prevent the University from hosting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the upcoming Career Fair.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is not a neutral employer, and its presence on campus may deter students from attending the event. This greatly disadvantages them and their chances of securing a career opportunity. CBP has been compliant with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has played a central role in the horrendous incidents occurring across the U.S.
A week and a half ago, two CBP agents abused, shot, and killed Alex Pretti, a nurse who, like many of our students, wanted to dedicate his life to serving others. The killing of Alex Pretti is not all -- CBP consistently violates human rights, targets vulnerable communities, and abuses its power to harm our families, neighbors, and friends across the country.
Allowing this agency to table at the Career Fair sends a clear message: our university would rather choose to turn a blind eye and endorse atrocious actions, rather than uphold the institution's values and students' safety.
Jefferson has a responsibility to ensure all students are safe and comfortable on campus, but this decision does the opposite. An environment that's designed to be open to all has shifted into an environment filled with fear and anxiety. Students are losing trust in the university and its administration, and we urge the appropriate people to condemn CBP's behavior and prove that student safety and comfortability is a priority.
As members of the Jefferson community, we refuse to be complacent in CBP's violence and act as bystanders while our neighbors and loved ones are put at risk daily.
We call upon the University to heed our demands:
1. Thomas Jefferson University should make a public commitment to refuse any and all cooperation with Customs and Border Protection, as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This includes their participation in the Career Fair, as well as future presence on campus.
2. Thomas Jefferson University should create a student panel before each Career Fair, where students can research and either approve or disapprove potential employers. This would prevent issues like this from arising in the future, and could help build trust between the administration and students.
3. The Career Services Office should commit to only hosting employers who abide by the values of our University, as well as Jefferson's Commitment to Diversity, as outlined below from the University's website:
"Jefferson holds itself accountable, at every level of the organization, to nurture an environment of inclusion and respect, by valuing the uniqueness of every individual, celebrating and reflecting the rich diversity of its communities, and taking meaningful action to cultivate an environment of fairness, belonging & opportunity."
4. To the University, we urge you to reflect on your own mission statements. This decision not only harms students, but also contradicts "taking meaningful action to cultivate an environment of fairness, belonging, & opportunity."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is not a neutral employer, and its presence on campus may deter students from attending the event. This greatly disadvantages them and their chances of securing a career opportunity. CBP has been compliant with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has played a central role in the horrendous incidents occurring across the U.S.
A week and a half ago, two CBP agents abused, shot, and killed Alex Pretti, a nurse who, like many of our students, wanted to dedicate his life to serving others. The killing of Alex Pretti is not all -- CBP consistently violates human rights, targets vulnerable communities, and abuses its power to harm our families, neighbors, and friends across the country.
Allowing this agency to table at the Career Fair sends a clear message: our university would rather choose to turn a blind eye and endorse atrocious actions, rather than uphold the institution's values and students' safety.
Jefferson has a responsibility to ensure all students are safe and comfortable on campus, but this decision does the opposite. An environment that's designed to be open to all has shifted into an environment filled with fear and anxiety. Students are losing trust in the university and its administration, and we urge the appropriate people to condemn CBP's behavior and prove that student safety and comfortability is a priority.
As members of the Jefferson community, we refuse to be complacent in CBP's violence and act as bystanders while our neighbors and loved ones are put at risk daily.
We call upon the University to heed our demands:
1. Thomas Jefferson University should make a public commitment to refuse any and all cooperation with Customs and Border Protection, as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This includes their participation in the Career Fair, as well as future presence on campus.
2. Thomas Jefferson University should create a student panel before each Career Fair, where students can research and either approve or disapprove potential employers. This would prevent issues like this from arising in the future, and could help build trust between the administration and students.
3. The Career Services Office should commit to only hosting employers who abide by the values of our University, as well as Jefferson's Commitment to Diversity, as outlined below from the University's website:
"Jefferson holds itself accountable, at every level of the organization, to nurture an environment of inclusion and respect, by valuing the uniqueness of every individual, celebrating and reflecting the rich diversity of its communities, and taking meaningful action to cultivate an environment of fairness, belonging & opportunity."
4. To the University, we urge you to reflect on your own mission statements. This decision not only harms students, but also contradicts "taking meaningful action to cultivate an environment of fairness, belonging, & opportunity."
Why is this important?
This matters because Customs and Border Protection's presence on campus directly impacts students, their safety, and their well-being. Furthermore, inviting CBP to attend the Career Fair proves a direct contradiction to the values and mission statements emphasized by the University. Jefferson must commit to prioritizing their students and taking a public stand against the violence caused by CBP and ICE.