Students at multiple colleges are publicly pushing back against government immigration agencies recruiting at campus career fairs, and protests have escalated into arrests at Columbia University. As spring career events invite agencies including Customs and Border Protection, student groups have demanded campuses bar such recruiters amid intensified federal deportation actions. At Columbia, demonstrators organized by CU Stands Up and allied groups blocked Broadway outside campus and refused disperse orders; twelve students and faculty were arrested and later released. University officials defended campus protocols for visits from federal agencies while insisting they support peaceful protest. The confrontations reflect rising tensions on campuses about whether and when to host government employers tied to immigration enforcement. University career centers now face competing pressures: maintain employer access to students and comply with nondiscrimination and free‑speech obligations, while managing reputational risk and safety. Colleges will need clearer policies and stakeholder engagement strategies ahead of upcoming recruitment cycles.
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