Law firm says BU failed to protect student who reported Allston car wash workers

Local News

The law firm demands that Boston University relocate student Zachary Segal to its D.C. campus over safety concerns.

A conservative law firm says Boston University failed to protect a student who faced harassment and threats after reporting Allston car wash employees to federal immigration authorities, according to a letter obtained by The Daily Free Press, BU’s student newspaper.

In the letter, America First Legal said it represents BU undergraduate Zachary Segal, who claimed to have called U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) several times to report the workers before they were detained on Nov. 4. 

Following the raid, Segal, president of the Boston University College Republicans, posted on X, “This week [ICE] finally responded to my request to detain these criminals. As someone who lives in the neighborhood, I’ve seen how American jobs are being given away to those with no right to be here,” he wrote. “Pump up the numbers!”

The car wash employees who were detained had work permits, however, agents allegedly didn’t allow the workers to retrieve their documentation from their lockers before detaining them. None of the workers had criminal records that would warrant deportation, according to an attorney representing them.

The law firm alleges that following the X post, Segal was subjected to harassment and threats, and that university officials failed to adequately protect him. Instead, the firm said, BU advised Segal to make arrangements with his professors to avoid attending classes in person.

According to Segal’s attorneys, posters were displayed on campus calling him a racist and fascist, and individuals — including fellow students — allegedly harassed and threatened him online and via text message.

One alleged message read, “If I ever see you i’m f—ng killing you and leaving ur (sic) dead body on the sidewalk,” according to the firm. Other messages included, “I’ll be waiting outside your little event tonight” and “We’re coming for you.”

America First Legal is asking BU to relocate Segal to the university’s Washington, D.C., campus at the same tuition cost so he can complete his studies, arguing that it is a safer environment than Boston.

“At present, Boston University cannot adequately ensure Mr. Segal’s safety at the Boston campus — a reality confirmed by the University’s own directive that he refrain from attending classes,” America First Legal Senior Counsel Emily Percival wrote. “Boston University must provide a reasonable accommodation for Mr. Segal. Asking him to shelter in his home is not reasonable.”

The firm gave BU a deadline of Dec. 26 to respond to the request.

According to The Daily Free Press, BU officials have not responded to multiple requests for comment about the letter or how the university plans to address it.