Audio by Makena Locsin
U.S. Customs and Border Protection will not be attending the Fall Career Fair due to the government shutdown as of Tuesday morning, according to Cal Poly spokesperson Matt Lazier.
The agency was previously reported to be attending the career fair on Wednesday, causing students and faculty to protest. The protests included a petition by the Latinx Cultural Association that received over 1,500 signatures, as reported by Mustang News.
While Border Protection was reported to be attending Wednesday, the career fair spans Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Cal Poly Recreation Center.
The federal government shutdown began Oct. 1, and as of Oct. 21, it is on track to become the longest on record, according to AP.
Border Patrol agents and operations officers are classified as essential workers and continue to work unpaid, according to the Department of Homeland Security. However, DHS faces “challenges in filling positions in both the short and long-term.”
This is a developing story, check back to this page for more updates.