Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story stated the NO CBP at SJU! petition had over 800 signatures. This number was not updated; the current number stands at 1,150 signatures. 

After many concerns, complaints and fears from the St. John’s community and national tensions surrounding United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the University’s partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has officially been suspended. 

The partnership was announced on May 6 2025. According to the administration, the program was initiated to create opportunities—such as internships and other job opportunities—for St. John’s Homeland Security and Cyber Security majors and minors. However, the program was met with significant controversy, with a petition signed by over 1,150 students, faculty members and other members of the larger Queens community. 

The original controversy stemmed from the idea that this partnership directly violated the university’s Vincentian values. 

On a national level, ICE has been creating widespread terror and fear across the country, sparking outrage from all areas of the United States, even leading to mass strikes. Since its origin, the partnership with CBP has been met with pushback from the St. John’s community. The recent actions by ICE officials and the current administration have furthered the originally stated fear. 

According to an email sent out by NO CPB at SJU! Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum announced that the University officially suspended the partnership in an email to the St. John’s University Law School professors.  

“I write to share that the University has suspended its partnership with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The University reached this decision in recent weeks after concluding that the partnership is currently incompatible with the mission of St. John’s,” said Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum. 

This email from NO CBP at SJU! also expressed gratitude for the suspension and the actions the St. John’s community took. “For nearly 9 months, you sustained an array of actions that prompted the ‘suspension’ of a university partnership that was not Catholic and Vincentian in its values and should NEVER have been created—not during any recent U.S. administration.” 

While many rejoice at the program’s suspension, it brings bigger questions of confusion. The email by NO CPB at SJU! continues to ask what suspension actually means, and “How will administrators repair the confidence and trust that they so badly damaged?”

In response to inquiries from The Torch, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Simon G. Moller Ph.D said, “After constructive, mission-focused conversations with US Customs and Border Protection, the decision was made to suspend, in advance of the one-year renewal, the academic partnership by mutual agreement.”