University Of Minnesota Students Seek Immigrant Protections

Dozens of similar petitions are dispersing around college campuses nationwide. They ask school leaders to protect undocumented students and community members from deportation.

The University of Minnesota petition asks the school's president, Eric Kaler, and other officials to pledge their support to those who may be vulnerable to policy charges or violence targeting immigrants and refugees.

Minnesota Student Association president Abeer Syedah drafted the petition and will send it to Kaler and other administrators. Syedah says the university's general counsel office is looking into the legality of the requests.

University officials say they're closely following discussions that represent a variety of opinions on immigration laws.