Boston University student Zac Segal is facing intense backlash after admitting to repeatedly calling U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on employees at a local car wash, leading to the detention of nine legal workers last month. Segal, president of the university's College Republicans, took to social media platform X to frame his activism as a response to American jobs being given away to undocumented immigrants.
Segal claimed he had been contacting ICE for months and welcomed their response when they finally detained those "criminals." His posts sparked widespread criticism from students, faculty, and community members who argued that many of the workers held valid work permits and were unfairly targeted. The detention itself has drawn scrutiny over whether it was justified or a case of xenophobic vigilantism.
Segal expressed confusion over the backlash, saying he didn't understand why he was receiving negative feedback when he claimed to be defending American jobs. However, his posts highlighted a disconnect between his perception of activism and the broader social and legal implications of calling ICE on workers.
University administrators have since weighed in, stating that Boston University supports free speech but expects students to exercise it responsibly. The university president has called for civility and dialogue, while panels and town halls are being organized to discuss immigration, labor rights, and political expression in a constructive manner.
This incident serves as a reminder of the challenges universities face in balancing free speech with the responsibilities of student engagement, particularly when activism directly affects vulnerable populations. Segal's actions have sparked intense debate on college campuses, where students' online presence can quickly turn into national controversies.
Segal claimed he had been contacting ICE for months and welcomed their response when they finally detained those "criminals." His posts sparked widespread criticism from students, faculty, and community members who argued that many of the workers held valid work permits and were unfairly targeted. The detention itself has drawn scrutiny over whether it was justified or a case of xenophobic vigilantism.
Segal expressed confusion over the backlash, saying he didn't understand why he was receiving negative feedback when he claimed to be defending American jobs. However, his posts highlighted a disconnect between his perception of activism and the broader social and legal implications of calling ICE on workers.
University administrators have since weighed in, stating that Boston University supports free speech but expects students to exercise it responsibly. The university president has called for civility and dialogue, while panels and town halls are being organized to discuss immigration, labor rights, and political expression in a constructive manner.
This incident serves as a reminder of the challenges universities face in balancing free speech with the responsibilities of student engagement, particularly when activism directly affects vulnerable populations. Segal's actions have sparked intense debate on college campuses, where students' online presence can quickly turn into national controversies.
I gotta say, this guy Zac Segal is super clueless 
. Like, what even is his problem? Those people at the car wash are not "criminals" they're just trying to make a living and have valid work permits. ICE was right to detain them if there was something shady going on. But calling ICE nonstop because you don't like immigrants isn't activism, it's harassment 
. And now he's all surprised that people aren't praising him for "defending American jobs"? Get over yourself dude 
. Universities need to set boundaries on this stuff, can't have students just running around causing harm without consequences. Free speech is one thing, but not when it's used to bully or oppress others.
. I mean, we all know the complexities of immigration laws and how they can be abused, but Segal's actions came across as really xenophobic and hurtful. And yeah, I'm sure he was trying to frame it as some kind of activism, but honestly, that's not how it played out 
.
. I mean, we all know that universities are supposed to be spaces for free inquiry and discussion, but at what cost? Segal's actions have caused real harm and pain to a community of people who just wanted to do their jobs without being targeted or bullied 
.
. We can't just reduce these complex issues to simplistic soundbites or online posts 
. We need to listen to each other's perspectives and work towards finding solutions that actually help people, not just make them feel uncomfortable 
.
. Zac Segal's whole thing is just crazy... like, he was literally calling ICE on people who were doing their jobs and didn't do anything wrong? That's not activism, that's just being a jerk 
. And let's be real, universities are where we learn those skills: critical thinking, empathy, all that jazz 
. So, yeah, I hope Segal learns from this experience and gets some perspective soon 
.
. Those workers are just trying to provide for their families and make a living. It's like, what even is the difference between someone having papers or not? We should be building bridges, not tearing them down. And yeah, I get that Zac Segal was trying to stand up for American jobs, but come on, you can't just call ICE on people without thinking about the consequences 
. It's not about "defending" jobs, it's about treating people with dignity and respect.
.
.
And now he's complaining that people are mad at him... poor baby 
. Universities need to do better in teaching students like Segal how to express themselves without putting others in harm's way 
. Have you seen the posts from these workers? They're not "criminals" - they have work permits and everything! 
. Let's get these conversations started and work towards creating a more inclusive campus community 
!
Your actions have consequences, dude. He says he doesn't understand why people are upset with him, but maybe if you took some time to listen to other people's perspectives instead of just shouting from your soapbox, you'd get a better idea.
. I mean, what even is his logic here? He thinks he's defending American jobs but really he's just causing drama and potentially harming people who need it most 
. We need more nuanced discussions like this, especially on college campuses where students are still figuring out their voices 
He thinks calling ICE on car wash workers is a bold move to defend American jobs, but really it's just xenophobic vigilantism at its finest 
#BeKind . The university needs to hold students like Segal accountable for their actions and encourage them to think critically about their activism 
#CriticalThinking 
... I mean, come on, dude! He's president of the College Republicans and thought it'd be a great idea to stir up some drama? Meanwhile, he's got no clue why people are mad at him, like, "I was just trying to defend American jobs" 
. and meanwhile, the university is like "oh no, our student is being backlashed, let's organize some panels" 
. and now he's all confused why people are mad at him? 
. it's not about defending American jobs, it's about defending human dignity 
. can't we just have a respectful conversation about these issues instead of tearing each other down online 
and i'm not buying his "free speech" act