Notre Dame faculty pass sanctuary campus resolution

The push for the University of Notre Dame to become a sanctuary campus has seen a breakthrough.

You mall recall back in November, we brought you the story of the school's sanctuary petition.

Hundreds of students and faculty staged a walkout in support of undocumented immigrants.

Last week, their cause advanced when the Faculty Senate passed a faculty resolution supporting sanctuary status.

This adds to a previous resolution by the Student Senate that also expressed support for the university becoming a sanctuary campus.

Here is the resolution:

Whereas the University of Notre Dame, as a leading Catholic University, is committed to the search for truth, justice, and human dignity that involves both our scholarship, research, and teaching, and our more general defense of the Gospel values that recognize the needs of the poor, marginalized, and disadvantaged in society;

Whereas the administration, faculty and students draw inspiration from Father Hesburgh’s long years of service to the cause of civil rights and his endorsement of diversity as a key value of the university, which is reflected in the University’s Mission Statement;

Whereas we wish to reaffirm our commitment to these principles with the support of the recent statements of Pope Francis I, who, in accordance with the Church’s long-standing affirmation of the rights of the human person and support for social justice, has called for understanding of the plight of migrants and refugees, and underscored the need for a just and compassionate world order;

Whereas University President Father Jenkins has recently reaffirmed the familial nature of the university community and expressed the university’s commitment to the safety, well-being, and education of its undocumented students;

Whereas the Student Government has strongly endorsed these same principles and has evidence of wide student support;

Whereas undocumented students at this University have been accepted into the University family under legal provisions such as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) and are valued members of our community;

Whereas the term “Sanctuary Campus” builds on the enduring Catholic tradition of sanctuaries free from civil intrusion and carries considerable symbolic weight;

Be it resolved that the Faculty Senate of the University of Notre Dame urges Father Jenkins to declare the university a sanctuary campus and adopt the following sanctuary provisions:

• The university affirms unequivocally that undocumented students are full members of the Notre Dame family who will be protected to the fullest extent possible.

• The University of Notre Dame will not allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) / Customs and Border Protection (CBP) / U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to be present on the university campus for enforcement purposes unless required by a warrant.

• The University of Notre Dame will not share information about undocumented students with these agencies unless required by subpoena, court order, or warrant.

• The University of Notre Dame will continue to admit undocumented students and provide supplementary financial aid for them in the event that DACA is terminated or curtailed and if undocumented students lose the right to work.

• The University will create an office for undocumented students, with a director and free on-campus access to legal counsel.