The Right To Dream: Could Trump’s Executive Order Halt Campus Life

The University of Texas Tower.

Linda, a UT student, expresses that while the new year has barely begun, she already feels exhausted. On Jan. 21, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that colleges and universities are no longer exempt from immigration law enforcement activities.

“Honestly, it has been the most tiring month of 2025 and it has barely even started,” said Linda, a government and sociology major. “It's been horrible having to see the news and having to hear about rumors that there's ICE officers at Jester or that they're on Guadalupe Street.” 

In late January, President Trump signed an executive order that authorizes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to raid “protected areas” such as schools and churches for undocumented individuals. The University of Texas is no exception. UT has been designated a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2022, which means that at least 25% of its full-time undergraduate population is Hispanic. This amount has increased all the way up to 28.2% in 20124. Ever since the order was signed, mass deportations have swept across the country, including various cities in Texas which include Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio. Which strikes the real question: could Trump’s executive order halt campus life as we know it?

What Does this Executive Order Mean for Students?

After talking with Dr Roberto Carlos, an assistant professor of Government at UT, who specializes in Latinx immigrant experience, he voices this is a time of great uncertainty and fear. 

“There's just a lot of fear in the community, or maybe anxiety is a better word. I don't know exactly which makes more sense, but there's a lot of uncertainty,” Dr. Roberto Carlos said.

Talking in deep conversation, Dr. Carlos explained that while universities have the right to say no to ICE storming on campus, it becomes foggy as he explained what strategies universities can use to support undocumented students. 

“As for campus policies, we haven’t received clear guidance from UT on how to handle federal immigration enforcement,” he expresses. “However, I recently saw something from the University of Houston indicating that if ICE arrives with a warrant, they must be allowed access to buildings and classrooms.”

Dr. Carlos said that while UT hasn’t provided formal instructions, there’s an understanding that universities won’t directly assist federal immigration authorities, but they also won’t obstruct them. 

The immigration policies, particularly regarding undocumented students, are often shaped by how society perceives who is "deserving" or "undeserving" of rights and opportunities, Dr. Carlos said. 

“In Texas, there has historically been an unofficial stance that undocumented students—especially DACA recipients and Dreamers—should have access to education and a safe environment. This position has not been formally changed, and while the Texas government hasn’t openly supported it, they also haven’t taken action to block or restrict it.”

UT Rooted Commitment to Community Support

Amidst this chilling effect, UT Rooted is here to offer support. 

“We have posted many updates and resources on our page,” a UT Rooted member said. “We also have posted a couple of seminars over just typical things to know, like in terms of knowing their rights and knowing how to protect yourself while also advocating.” 

UT Rooted is a student-led collective of immigrant students dedicated to supporting and advocating for the undocumented student community. At UT, they aim to provide resources and awareness of what’s happening in the world, especially in the community. 

Due to safety concerns, they chose to remain anonymous. However, they shared that they’ve noticed changes in the campus environment, including an increase in hate speech directed at immigrants. The UT Rooted member expressed concern that students may feel targeted or isolated during these difficult times.

However, UT Rooted isn’t backing down. Rooted has posted seminars on their Instagram to inform people about important topics, such as knowing their rights and how to protect themselves while advocating for others. Additionally, they've done outreach through tabling and handing out cards to those in need. They also mention offering support to students, including a scholarship system to help them.

“I feel like advocacy and awareness is the best thing that anyone could do during these times just because you don't want to sacrifice your safety for your cause,” a UT Rooted member said. “But also you don't want to sit around and do nothing about it. So I feel because of that, the best thing we could all do is just advocate.” 

Hope and Resistance: How Students Are Pushing Forward

UT Rooted is empowering the community with awareness and advocacy, providing a platform for others, especially students like Linda, to voice their concerns.

As students feel unsupported by the university and their safety threatened, Linda is more determined than ever to pursue her goal of becoming an immigration lawyer, equipped with the knowledge to protect herself and the ability to create a safe space for others. 

“The saying at UT Austin is ‘What starts here changes the world.’ Regardless of what happens, UT students—immigrant or otherwise—deserve to be here. They deserve an education and to feel safe,” Linda said. “They're here to build a better life and make a difference, so the university needs to do more to provide that space for them.”