The University Park Undergraduate Association gathered Wednesday night to discuss a proposal for University President Barron to protect the rights of minorities during Donald Trump’s new administration by declaring Penn State to be a sanctuary campus.

The student government discussed several motions, but supporting Penn State protecting undocumented students was possibly the most salient.

A petition was formed by students and brought to the UPUA’s attention with the intention to make all of Penn State’s campuses safe for undocumented immigrants. Written on Nov. 24, it has collected over 400 signatures so far. The petition is addressed by “we – the undersigned members of the Penn State community,” and consists of a letter to President Barron and a list of actions for the university to take.

The motion was unanimously passed by the UPUA and met with applause from students in the audience.

This is in light of Trump's being elected president and his cumulative promises surrounding immigration. Trump has made strong claims during his campaign — saying he will “build a wall” along the U.S.-Mexico border, establish a “deportation force,” and restrict immigration from many Muslim countries. He has also said he will repeal DACA — which is an initiative purposed to shelter illegal immigrants who entered the US as minors.

“If DACA is no longer, then what we are doing is opposing the federal government. I’m afraid we would be provoking the federal government to remove a lot of our federal funding,” UPUA member Isaac Will said. After voicing his concerns, he said he would feel morally wrong to oppose the motion.

“I would feel wrong if I didn’t say yes to this, but I would also be wrong if I didn’t say we should take steps to get students documented,” Will (sophomore - history and political science) said.

Fellow UPUA member Nick Karafilis agreed that actions should be taken to document undocumented immigrants. “It’s possible that one day we wake up and there’s a call for a mass deportation,” Karafilis (sophomore - information science and technology and integrative arts) said.

“To quell the fears is one thing, but to remove them entirely is something else.”

In his first 100 days, Trump has claimed he will investigate abuses of visa programs, set a minimum prison sentence for immigrants who illegally re-enter the US, deport criminal illegal aliens, and end illegal immigration. Mention of a wall along the Mexican border was omitted from his outline.

The proposal cites the newfound “All In at Penn State” initiative — which strives to promote diversity and inclusion — and DACA. Barron has given his signature in support of both. The letter asks that Barron uphold the initiative and DACA by taking immediate action to safeguard Penn State for undocumented immigrants.

“It is, we believe, the moral responsibility of this university to ensure that it remains a place where the administration actively protects the rights and safety of all members of its community,” the letter states.

Among others, proposed actions for the university include: noncompliance with immigration authorities concerning deportations or raids, refusal to release students’ and community members’ immigration status, admission of free and confidential legal counsel to students under DACA, barring of Immigration and Customs Enforcement from physical access to all property of Penn State, the allowance of deported DACA students to finish their degree online, and the unequivocal opposition of a Muslim registry.

The resolution would not bind the university to any illegal actions, as it would still be expected to comply when presented with a warrant.

Though it may seem students have high demands, they are not out of reach. On Wednesday, Trump’s alma mater became a "sanctuary campus." University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann officiated it in an email to students and faculty.

At the UPUA meeting, students were invited to speak during an open student forum. Students took turns stepping up to a microphone to voice their support of the proposal for Penn State to protect undocumented students.

Ricardo Rojas typed out a speech. As he spoke, students in the audience snapped and clapped in support of his words.

“[Undocumented immigrants] are our peers, our fellow Penn Staters, our friends. We put our arms around them when we sing to our alma mater,” Rojas (senior - electrical engineering) said.

He also said members of the university’s administration swore an oath to protect students. “This is what the oath means: taking a stand and doing more than getting [students] busses to a football game,” Rojas said. He continued to say they instead should “protect [students’] livelihoods and futures.”

UPUA member Jorge Zurita Coronado said he and the rest of the student government had to put aside their opinions for the benefit of the university and its students. “Students are here asking us to join them in advocacy,” Coronado (junior - political science) said. “We should be their advocates.”