Last week, the Georgetown Law community made headlines with their determined efforts to prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from participating in their career fair. This initiative, shared with George Washington Law, aimed to uphold what many see as the schools' historical commitment to justice and ethical practices. However, despite significant student mobilization, including a petition with over 1,200 signatures, the response from university leadership fell short of expectations.

At the heart of the controversy was the decision by Dean Dayna Bowen Matthew of GW Law not to revoke ICE’s invitation to the joint annual virtual Public Sector Recruiting Program, citing reasons of free expression and university policy. This decision was made even after a substantial student meeting and the backdrop of a recent incident in Minnesota, which involved a human rights defender being fatally shot by ICE agents. This incident has intensified scrutiny of ICE's role and presence in public spaces, including educational institutions.

While ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor withdrew from the event, its Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center division chose to participate. This particular division’s involvement has raised eyebrows and questions about the true nature of its operations, given ICE's controversial reputation.

The fallout from the decision included a notable reaction from the career fair’s participants, with at least 20 employers withdrawing their participation in protest. Both the student bodies and the wider community have expressed profound disappointment in GW and Georgetown’s leadership, questioning the integrity of their commitment to student voices and social justice.

This incident has sparked a broader debate on the role of educational institutions in political and human rights issues, particularly regarding their partnerships and the entities they choose to align with. The next steps for the universities and their administrations remain unclear, as they navigate the complex intersections of policy, expression, and ethical responsibility. Meanwhile, the student activists continue to push for accountability and change, hoping that their institutions will eventually align their actions with the values they teach.