Response to Federal Immigration Enforcement

Guidelines for Faculty

 

Follow These Guidelines

  • The guidelines are intended to minimize your direct involvement
  • Respond in a professional manner
  • Do not provide false information
  • Do not engage in casual conversation with the federal officer
  • Do not block or impede access – if the officer has a valid judicial warrant they don’t need your permission to enter your work space or classroom. Impeding access could result in your arrest.

Guidelines: Response if Approached by a Federal Officer

  1. Like any other visitor, ask how you can be of assistance. [This will provide you with context].

  2. If the person gives information that indicates they are enforcing federal law, hand them the letter from Campus Counsel that explains our process for responding to federal requests. If comfortable doing so, ask for the officer’s name or business card.

  3. Indicate that it is not within your job duties to respond to these requests and that you will need to step away to consult with appropriate College officials.

  4. If the officer tells you not to leave, ask if you are being detained.  If they say yes, do not leave. Since you are being detained, you have the right to exercise your 5th amendment right to say nothing further. If a co-worker observes you being detained they should send an email to ice-notification@smc.edu and call SMCPD (310-434-4300).

  5. For faculty in a classroom, if allowed to leave, step outside your classroom and:

    • Email ice-notification@smc.edu with a one-sentence message: “Federal officers from [insert if known] are in [Insert Building], [Insert Room Number]”

    • Call SMCPD (310-434-4300) and provide the same information

    • Wait for Campus Police to arrive and brief them on what transpired

    • Follow the guidance of Campus Police who will be consulting with Campus Counsel

    For faculty not in a classroom, follow the above steps but proceed to the nearest administrator’s office.

  6. Take notes while fresh in your mind so you can complete the “Report of Non-SMC Law Enforcement Contact” form.

  7. Complete the contact form.

Why This Process

  • College employees do not have the training or experience to determine the validity of federal legal process.
  • Campus Counsel and SMCPD have the most experience dealing with law enforcement.
  • They will work together to ensure that all student and employee rights are being protected under the law.
  • Unless directed by them, do not disclose information about students, faculty, or staff.