Student Protest Surge Drowns Out Anti-Immigrant Rally at ASU

On January 31, 2025, a significant protest unfolded at Arizona State University (ASU) in response to a controversial event organized by a university club aligned with white supremacy. The College Republicans United had encouraged students to report their classmates to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), prompting hundreds of ASU students to march in solidarity with their undocumented peers.

Waving Mexican flags and displaying posters emblazoned with phrases like “Education not deportation” and “Stand with ASU Dreamers,” demonstrators surrounded a small group of College Republicans United members at Hayden Library. These members held signs detailing how to report suspected undocumented students, sparking chants of “Down with deportation!” and “No hate, no fear, everyone is welcome here!” as the atmosphere grew charged with emotion.

The alarming initiative by College Republicans United drew immediate backlash from immigration advocates, who voiced concerns over potential racial discrimination. Earlier in the week, the group had announced it would set up a table to provide information on how to report classmates believed to be undocumented, including those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. This move rekindled memories of past controversies, such as the group’s previous invitation extended to notorious white nationalist Jared Taylor.

Reyna Montoya, founder and CEO of Aliento, a nonprofit supporting undocumented youth, criticized the event as an attempt to intimidate students seeking education. Through a bullhorn, she urged protesters to respond with love and activism against such intimidation. “They wanted to ensure that they don’t get their degrees, and the best way to fight back is with love,” she said passionately during the march.

The protest included several circuits around Hayden Library and the Memorial Union, aimed at reassuring Dreamers that they are not alone. As attendees gathered to listen to speeches, Ayla Moreno, a surprised participant, expressed her emotional support for her classmates. “It’s clear that there are a lot more people here than those against us,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of unity.

Sharik Luengas, a young woman wrapped in a Colombian flag, expressed her astonishment at the willingness of some to betray fellow students. “Any chance I have to speak up for my family, I will,” she stated, before joining the march alongside like-minded peers.

Jesus Verdini, donning a flag that merged American and Mexican colors, voiced frustration over ASU’s decision to allow the anti-immigrant event. He underscored the fear of racial profiling, arguing that one cannot discern another’s immigration status based on appearances alone. “Immigrants are just normal people,” he asserted. “It’s so unjust and racist that people are allowed to discriminate against them like this.”

In a press release, ASU condemned the College Republicans United event but clarified that it could not prevent it under free speech protections. Reports indicated that only a handful of attendees were ASU students, with many others being prominent white nationalist supporters.

“Encouraging ASU students to make indiscriminate complaints to law enforcement about fellow students is not in keeping with the principles which underlie our academic community,” the university stated, stressing its commitment to fostering an environment conducive to education.

Three years prior, ASU was designated a Hispanic-serving Institution due to its significant Hispanic student population, which numbered over 30,200 in the fall 2021 semester. With recent policy changes allowing in-state tuition for Dreamers, that number is anticipated to rise.

In response to the events, the student-run chapter of Aliento at ASU submitted a letter to university officials demanding strict protections for all students regarding ICE presence on campus. As co-chair Emily Sotelo articulated, the letter has gathered over 4,000 student signatures. “All students, regardless of their legal status, deserve to seek an education without fear,” she stated during the march.