U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) called out Penn on Wednesday, announcing legislation that would punish "sanctuary" universities that protect undocumented students.
Harris’ bill would force federally funded institutions, including universities such as Penn and Columbia, to comply with legal demands by government immigration agents, under the threat of a complete cutoff from federal funds, according to The Hill.
Penn President Amy Gutmann declared Penn a sanctuary campus for undocumented students in a Nov. 30 email. Federal immigration agents, she said, will not be permitted on campus unless they have proper warrants. Additionally, Gutmann said the University would not give undocumented students’ information to the federal government unless lawfully ordered.
“Shame on those universities who take federal money and then promote lawlessness,” Harris told the Hill, specifically including Penn as an example.
"We fully support all of our students, including our DACA/undocumented students, to the greatest extent possible, consistent with our legal obligations," Penn spokesperson Steve MacCarthy said in an email statement when asked about the bill.
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