UC San Diego ends partnership with Border Patrol drug-busting grant after student protests

After months of student demonstrations, the University of California, San Diego announced it will no longer participate in the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Stonegarden grant, which paired campus police with US Border Patrol agents to target drug and human smuggling. The movement was sparked by concerns that the collaboration endangered undocumented and international students and eroded trust in campus law enforcement.

Aryan Dixit, president of the Students’ Civil Liberties Union, organized rallies and threatened large gatherings, prompting the campus police chief to withdraw from the program in a private meeting. Internal communications show the university intends to cease all involvement and has no plans to seek future funding through the grant. Chancellor Niraj Dangoria reiterated the institution’s dedication to a safe, inclusive campus for all, while the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the partnership’s end. Operation Stonegarden continues elsewhere in California, receiving significant funding for other counties.