FGCU campus quiet as government agencies cancel visit

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) was expected to host ICE, FBI, and DEA agents for what was rumored to be student recruitment, but FGCU quickly denied rumors that it was a hiring event and said it was rather a required course. None of the agencies showed up due to a partial government shutdown, and only a few protestors showed up.

Non-college protestors arrived with signs to denounce what they thought were ICE agents on campus. Margie Vincent, a grassroots organizer, said, "They said that ICE has backed out. They're not coming, and they didn't have money to travel here."

FGCU confirmed that none of the government agencies showed up because of the shutdown. Thomas Miles, an FGCU senior auditor, said, "There is a class going on. We were invited into the classroom, but ICE won't be here today."

The university explained in an email that the course focused on professional development for careers in criminal justice and is a required course.

However, few students showed any interest in participating in a protest. Margie Vincent noted, "I sent an email out last night. They have jobs and lives."

Some students who attended the class confirmed that none of the agencies were present. Although there have been ICE protests on campus over the past few months, they have been small in numbers.

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