Students at a leading Christian college in the United States are calling for it to become a "sanctuary" to prevent foreign students from being identified to the Trump administration.
Students, alumni and others at Fuller Theological Seminary have signed a petition to the president, the provost and the dean of students expressing concern for the "safety and dignity" of all students and workers. They want the seminary to declare itself a sanctuary, or safe place, for all those without the right documents.
Signing themselves off "In Christ", they say: "We request that Fuller begins the necessary process to declare every campus a sanctuary for undocumented students and workers."
They say they are "dismayed and disoriented" by the election result.
They also say they are "fearful" of the hatred that has spread across the country, and report xenophobic chants directed at Latin youth, the bullying of Muslim and LGBT individuals, incendiary graffiti and vandalism.
"As you know, our own Pasadena campus and its students of color have not been exempt from the hostility that this election season has provoked," the students say.
They refer to President-Elect Trump's pre-election pledge to deport undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States as well as repeal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which provides relief from deportation and work benefits to hundreds of thousands of young people in the US, including Fuller students and staff.
The Fuller students warn: "If these policies are enacted they will prove devastating, subjecting students and workers who are integral to our community to punitive measures, and in contrast to Fuller's stated commitment to work for the good of human society."
They ask the seminary to guarantee privacy by refusing to release information regarding the immigration status of students and staff and to refuse to comply with immigration authorities on deportations or raids.
Other institutions have already declared themselves as sanctuaries, including All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington DC.
Fuller has been invited to comment on this article.
