By Stella Henretta

Members of the University of Maryland’s Young Democratic Socialists of America rallied together on Tuesday, demanding that UMD President Darryll J. Pines and the UMD administration declare the university a sanctuary campus for immigrant students, faculty and staff. 

In the face of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency increasing its assaults across the country, organizing the recent rally was a step in YDSA’s escalating sanctuary campus campaign strategy, said Nick Cosgrove, co-chair of YDSA and a sophomore American studies and communication double major.

“We organized the rally to have a public showing of support for our sanctuary campus campaign, demonstrating that the university can’t ignore us,” Cosgrove said. “We will not sit by as this fascist occupying force [ICE] assaults people around the country.”

We also want to show immigrant and undocumented members of the UMD community that there are people willing to fight for them even when the national landscape often appears so bleak. – Cosgrove

YDSA held a similar rally on Oct. 14, 2025, to raise awareness about UMD’s failure to fully address campus immigration concerns.

In response to YDSA’s petition to label the university a sanctuary campus, Adele H. Stamp Student Union Director Marsha Guenzler-Stevens sent an email to YDSA on behalf of, and in consultation with, the university president’s office and the Office of the Vice President for Administration.

The email stated the university would remain committed to fostering a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for all students, adding it would continue to connect individuals with resources, legal guidance and campus support services.

UMD’s response disappointed Cole Christesen, a freshman government and politics major and master of ceremonies at the recent YDSA rally.

“[They were] unwilling to really say the words, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do to protect UMD’s community,’ and just obfuscated the point,” Christensen said. “I think everyone in YDSA is really disappointed in how much [UMD] … does not actually listen to any of our demands, but still appears to the media like they are this left-wing institution fighting back against us,” Christesen said.

Several students participated in the recent YDSA rally for various reasons. Freshman finance major Andrew Quinonez attended because he connects personally to the cause.  

“I’ve been seeing [ICE] all over the news, and my family members have been affected by it, so this is something that I’m personally passionate about; I just don’t think ICE has space on this campus,” Quinonez said.

Freshman public policy major Zully Villeda was also involved in the rally for personal reasons, but voiced that it is key to show up and support a cause.

“I know that Maryland is very diverse and we do have a lot of immigrant Terps, and I feel like coming out here and advocating for those who can’t speak up is very important, especially with what we see going on around our nation right now,” Villeda said.

Christesen also said a primary point of the rally was to speak out.

I think the big goal for this rally in particular is to spread the word, to get as many people involved as possible as we continue on our campaign and to show support, to show the university and President Pines that the students who make up this university and pay tuition to them do not support their actions, and they are mad. – Christesen

The rally offered individuals, like Villeda, a medium to express their disapproval of ICE. Villeda thinks the federal agency is rooted in racism and discrimination and fails to protect the nation. She added that the problem with immigration is not undocumented immigrants; rather, it is the pathways to citizenship. 

“We have a very outdated system, and the government needs to work on that,” Villeda said. “ICE isn’t really doing its job of protecting people; there are U.S. citizens dying, and it’s just very sad and depressing what is happening right now.”

Christesen agrees that ICE does not have U.S. citizens’ best interests in mind, saying his dislike of the agency extends beyond present times.

“I think that ICE has always been an institution that works against the benefits of our community, and has been terrorizing our community since it was founded,” Christesen said.

The YDSA rally showed UMD that many students and community members will fight for what is right, Cosgrove said. He adds that events like these serve as places for passionate students to meet one another and form connections, helping them feel less isolated and more powerful.

The university’s YDSA chapter does not have any rallies planned in the near future. However, YDSA is not finished. 

“We will continue pursuing escalating actions until the university implements our desired sanctuary campus policies,” Cosgrove said.

Featured Image: Members of the UMD YDSA chapter hold a banner in Hornbake Plaza, reading “YDSA UMD” on March 10. Photo by Stella Henretta.