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Pedestrians walk around Northwestern University's main campus, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016, in Evanston. The university administration recently rejected a petition presented by students, that asked for the university to be designated as a sanctuary campus.
Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune
Pedestrians walk around Northwestern University’s main campus, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016, in Evanston. The university administration recently rejected a petition presented by students, that asked for the university to be designated as a sanctuary campus.
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Adopting a “sanctuary campus” label has been a pressing issue for college students and faculty across the state.

But Illinois universities are stopping short of adopting that label, even though they intend to continue to protect undocumented students in other ways.

The sanctuary campus idea is modeled after so-called sanctuary cities, which don’t take proactive steps to identify and report people living in the country illegally. Donald Trump pledged increase deportations during his campaign, and the effort might gain traction now that he will be inaugurated as president on Jan. 20.

The University of Illinois is the latest university to reject the call to label itself a sanctuary campus because of the unclear legal implications of doing so, even after thousands signed a petition asking school officials to adopt the label.

Northwestern University rejected a similar petition, but said it has no intention of rescinding its support for undocumented students. The University of Chicago and DePaul University are among other Illinois schools who have pledged their support without adopting the label.

Schools that have declared themselves sanctuary campuses indicate their willingness to defy local and federal immigration authorities, vowing not to facilitate the questioning, detainment or deportation of undocumented students on their campuses, according to the Tribune.

For information, check out the Tribune’s report.

@RianneCoale | rcoale@redeyechicago.com