What agencies may be involved in immigration enforcement on campus?
Immigration enforcement officers may include Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Do immigration enforcement officers have access to campus?
As a public university, OHIO campuses are largely open to the public. Immigration enforcement officers may enter public areas on campus without a warrant. However, public access is limited in certain areas of campus. Limited access areas may include university-owned buildings that require a University-issued ID to enter, including classrooms, faculty and staff offices, laboratories, and residence halls.
OHIO campus community members should never physically interfere with an enforcement action or do anything to put themselves in physical danger. Nor should faculty, staff or students, under any circumstances, obstruct, interfere with or provide false information to ICE officers. In the event an individual is charged criminally, the University is not able to provide legal representation.
When can immigration enforcement officers enter limited access areas on campus?
Immigration enforcement officers are required to have a criminal judicial warrant or search warrant (i.e., signed by a judge) to lawfully enter limited access areas on campus without consent, such as a residence hall room.
If officers do not have a criminal judicial warrant, they may come to campus with an administrative warrant, which is not signed by a judge and does not authorize officers to enter limited access areas without consent. Please refer to the Know Your Rights information.
In any event, you should advise the officers that you must contact the Ohio University Police Department at (740) 593-1911 and the Office of Legal Affairs (740) 593-2626.
Are there other reasons immigration officials would be on campus?
Immigration officers may visit campuses for reasons unrelated to enforcement. These reasons may include random inspection of I-9 employment verification records and/or performing administrative site visits for visa compliance reviews.
What if immigration enforcement officers request personally identifiable information or education records about an OHIO student?
The Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) protects personally identifiable information (PII) in students’ education records from unauthorized disclosure. Ohio University may not disclose PII in education records without the student’s written consent except in limited circumstances.
Some PII, such as a student’s name and address are directory information, may be disclosed unless a student has requested confidentiality through MyOHIO Student Center. Other PII, such as a student’s class schedule, social security number, date of birth, and place of birth, may not be disclosed unless an exception to FERPA’s privacy requirement applies.
Accordingly, if you receive a request from officers for any information about an OHIO student, please contact the Office of Legal Affairs at (740) 593-2626.
If officers present a subpoena for the requested information, please contact the Office of Legal Affairs immediately. Do not accept service of a subpoena on behalf of the university.
Are there FERPA exceptions for international students and scholars in F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrant status?
OHIO sponsors many international students and scholars in F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrant status. FERPA permits institutions to respond to information requests from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to comply with the requirements of the F-1 and J-1 programs.
However, the information that can be requested and provided is limited to the categories listed in DHS regulations, and that request must be made to OHIO’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). ISSS maintains this information in the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS). For other information, international student and scholar records are entitled to the same FERPA protection that otherwise governs student education records.
If you receive a request for information about a student or scholar in F-1 or J-1 status, please contact ISSS at (740) 593-4330.
Who should I contact about my concerns?
If immigration enforcement officers are present in your classroom, office, laboratory, or residence hall, please immediately contact OUPD and the Office of Legal Affairs.
If you are experiencing other non-emergency concerns, you may contact Legal Affairs. Other offices that can assist include:
- Dean of Students (for students): (740) 593-1800
- Counseling and Psychological Services: (740) 593-1616
- Human Resources (for employees): (740) 593-1636