On Immigration Policy

As RIDGS faculty and campus community, supporting our noncitizen students is of utmost importance right now in the midst of gendered, racialized, and repressive threats from the new administration.

We have put together some facts and resources drawn up by the Department of Chicano & Latino Studies in dialog with others across campus.

Here is what we know:

1. As of now the UMN does not have a way to collect citizenship status information. This is different however for international students because they have to have a visa (the type varies).

2. Student have rights. Unless there is a judicial signed subpoena or warrant ICE is not allowed to search anyone, take any materials, or enter private spaces. We are still unsure what a “private” space means on a public campus but in the past, this has included classrooms and offices. One representative from the Office of General Council said that a faculty member would be able to ask an officer to show a warrant or leave. We still need clarity from administration on this.

3. If we are in class and ICE enters the classroom, faculty will be the one to engage with them. We ask students to all remain calm and quiet. It is a student’s right, regardless of citizenship status, to remain silent. While we do not yet have a direct plan of action from CLA, we will be following the procedure that was outlined in the law school which means that faculty will contact the UMN General Council and they must be the ones to receive and evaluate the judicial signed warrant or subpoena before any action can take place. Federal officials must act lawfully, and adhering to this protocol is the required process.

4. There are resources that are open to all students. The basic student resource guide is a good place to start. There is also a student emergency fund that we have been told works fairly quickly. You also all have access to student legal services. Finally, here are resources for undocumented/DACA students.