Towson SGA Addresses Concerns Over HSI atCareer Fair

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– By Mayra Coyoy, Staff Writer, La Voz Latina

Towson, MD – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has been listed on Handshake since August 2025 as an employer for Towson University’s Fall Career and Internship Fair. HSI recruiter Mary Horn said the agency is seeking interns, Special Agents, and Criminal Analysts, highlighting its broader mission beyond immigration enforcement, which includes human trafficking, drug smuggling, financial crimes, fraud, and gangs.

The announcement of HSI’s participation in the fair prompted the Student Government

Association (SGA) to host an open meeting with students, faculty, and administrators to address concerns, clarify HSI’s role, and hear community feedback. SGA President Allyyah Aali and Vice President Liam Briton opened the discussion by reaffirming the association’s commitment to supporting students in their advocacy, whether they oppose or support HSI’s presence. “Our main concern is making sure all voices are heard and that campus remains safe and inclusive,” Allyyah said.

Laurie Logan Bennett, Associate Vice President for Career Services, explained the university's employer policy. Towson, as a public institution, can only bar employers from recruiting for legally defensible reasons such as wage violations, fraud, or noncompliance with state or federal law. She added that the HSIs’ table will be located in a less central part of the career fair floor plan.

The meeting involved students, faculty, and administrators discussing protesting policies, student privacy, and communication. Students inquired about protesting near the career fair. Faculty members mentioned designated protest spaces and provided resources, including the university’s “Time, Place, and Manner” policy and a “safe activism” guide.

Concerns were also raised about the safety of student information. Career Center staff clarified that employers only receive information if students voluntarily share resumes or check in through QR code. Students were also advised to adjust their Handshake profiles to private if they had concerns.

Student organizations, including the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) and theYoung Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA), voiced deeper concerns about HSIs’

connection to federal immigration enforcement. Some argued that even if HSI is not directlytasked with immigration enforcement, it remains part of the broader Department of Homeland Security network. That concern was compounded by the agency's past listing. For example, at the Fall 2023 Career and Internship Fair, Handshake identifies the organization as the “Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement Strategic Retention and Recruitment – Homeland Security Investigations.” The listing linked to ICE’s main website

and included language about immigration enforcement, which some students said added to uncertainty about HSI’s role on campus.

Last spring, a student petition caused HSI to withdraw from the career fair. This fall, the Career Center confirmed that HSI is scheduled to attend. The meeting concluded with the SGA reaffirming its support for student advocacy, encouraging students to attend General Assembly meetings, utilize available resources, and contact the SGA for assistance.