Following student opposition, Saint Louis University announced that U.S. Customs and Border Protection will not participate in its upcoming career expo. The decision comes after a student petition argued that immigration-enforcement recruiting conflicts with the university’s faith-based mission and could create safety concerns for some students and their families.
According to KSDK, SLU confirmed that CBP had initially been registered for the Spring Career Expo before administrators removed the agency from the list of participating employers. CBP did not immediately respond to a request for comment, leaving students and staff without an official explanation for its absence.
Saint Louis University’s website states that the Spring Career Expo will take place Wednesday, March 4, in the Wool Ballrooms at the Busch Student Center. The event is designed to connect students from various majors with prospective employers. The university also offers resume reviews and preparation workshops in the days leading up to the fair to help students refine their presentations before attending.
Students Turn Up Heat On Campus Recruiting
Organizers circulated a petition referencing SLU’s Catholic, Jesuit values, urging the university to protect migrants’ rights, and stated they will continue advocating until their concerns are addressed. Students expressed that few consider federal immigration enforcement a career path and that CBP’s presence at the expo could raise safety concerns for some classmates and their families.
Campus Clash Echoes A National Trend
SLU’s decision follows similar controversies at other campuses regarding immigration-agency recruiting. CalMatters reported that Cal Poly Pomona postponed a job fair in August 2025 after backlash against CBP’s planned participation, and The Salt Lake Tribune has covered ongoing debates at Utah colleges over Border Patrol’s involvement in career events.
Organizers at SLU stated they are seeking clearer policies to protect immigrant students and surrounding communities, while university officials noted that they acted in response to student concerns. The issue over a single recruiter’s participation has highlighted the broader challenge colleges face in balancing employer access, campus safety, and institutional mission as students advocate for a greater voice in career event participation.
