VUPS confirms no ICE agents were on campus

Rumors of ICE agents on campus circulated Friday night, resulting in the African Student Union shutting down its party early, but VUPS confirmed these rumors were false.

Barrie Barto

A view of the Leadership and Service Center on a sunny day, as photographed on Oct. 19, 2022. (Hustler Multimedia/Barrie Barto)

By TaMyra Johnson, Managing Editor

Oct 19, 2025

African Student Union’s Oct. 17 “Rep Your Flag” party was shut down early by organizers due to allegations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents’ presence near Gillette Hall.

A Vanderbilt University Public Safety representative said the allegation of the agents’ presence was “based on a rumor” and that no ICE agents were present at Gillette Hall or anywhere else on campus.

The party was set to be held in the Leadership Service Space from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. but was canceled around 12:30 a.m. CDT, according to junior Omare Omatete, who was at the event.

“Around 12:30 a.m., one of the board members hurriedly rushed us out of the event space into the street,” Omatate said in a message to The Hustler. “She told us ‘ICE was here,’ or rather at Commons, and that we all should go home.”

ASU executive board members did not immediately respond to The Hustler’s request for comment.

About the Contributors

TaMyra Johnson, Senior Adviser

TaMyra Johnson (‘27) is from Louisville, Kentucky, and is double majoring in communications and culture, advocacy and leadership in the College of Arts and Science. She previously served as Deputy Life Editor. When not writing for The Hustler, you can find her reading, recording her podcast or listening to music. You can reach her at [email protected].

Barrie Barto, Former Editor-in-Chief

Barrie Barto (‘25) majored in medicine, health & society and communication of science & technology with a neuroscience minor in the College of Arts and Science. She also previously served as Photography Director. When she’s not hiking in Percy Warner, you can find Barrie cheering on the St. Louis Blues or tracking down the best gluten-free food in Nashville. She can be reached at [email protected].

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