Frequently Asked Questions Related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers on DePaul University Property

Immigration Officers may enter DePaul’s campus property for a variety of reasons, including apprehending individuals, requesting information or records, conducting unannounced inspections of Form I‑9 employment verification records, or performing administrative site visits related to visa compliance.

Whether Immigration Officers may enter a particular area of campus property depends on whether the space is considered public or nonpublic. Immigration Officers may enter public areas of DePaul, just like any member of the general public. Immigration Officers, however, may only access nonpublic or restricted areas with consent from an appropriate campus official or presentment of a judicial warrant.

Public campus areas include spaces where the general public has free access. This includes areas such as lobbies, waiting areas, and public parking lots. Immigration Officers may enter these areas without a warrant or permission.

Nonpublic campus spaces are areas where access is restricted. Some examples of nonpublic spaces at DePaul include:

·         faculty and administrator offices

·         campus buildings in which access is restricted by University-issued ID card

·         residence halls and dormitories

·         classrooms in use

·         ticketed performances

If an Immigration Officer asks for access to a limited access area, then you should:

1. Inform the officer that you are not authorized to grant access and that you must consult DePaul’s Office of General Counsel and Public Safety before granting access.
2. Ask the officer to wait in the nearest common area.
3. Immediately call Public Safety at (773) 325-7777 (Lincoln Park) or (312) 362-8400 (Loop); and the General Counsel at (312) 362-8564.
4. If instructed to do so by the Office of General Counsel or Public Safety, ask the officer for their name, identification number, agency affiliation, and whether they have a warrant.

Under no circumstance should you physically block or directly interfere with their entry/enforcement action, or provide false information to an officer.

A printable poster with this information is available here.

Only authorized officials may provide consent for Immigration Officers to enter nonpublic or restricted areas of campus in the absence of a judicial warrant. Frontline staff, faculty members, resident advisors, administrative staff and student workers do not have authority to provide consent for Immigration Officers to enter nonpublic campus spaces.

Because unauthorized consent may inadvertently waive legal protections, it is critical that all campus personnel immediately contact the OGC and/or Public Safety if an Immigration Officer requests access to nonpublic campus spaces. The OGC and/or Public Safety will identify and work with the appropriate officials to determine if consent is warranted.

Yes, a residential hall is considered a limited access area and cannot be legally accessed by Immigration Officers without a valid criminal warrant or the voluntary consent of the occupant.

Administrative warrants, including Forms I‑200 and I‑205, are signed by an immigration official rather than a judge and do not grant authority to enter nonpublic campus spaces without consent. These warrants typically list the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the top of the material, whereas a judicial warrant identifies a court.

A judicial search or arrest warrant is signed by a judge and grants Immigration Officers authority to enter nonpublic campus spaces, such as classrooms, offices and dormitories, without consent.

Employees who receive a request from an Immigration Officer for any information should contact the Office of General Counsel immediately for assistance. Under DePaul’s Response to Legal Inquiries policy, the Office of the General Counsel handles the release of all records to third parties.

Personally identifiable educational records are protected by the Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA). As a University employee, you are required to maintain the confidentiality of these records.

International students and scholars are affected differently. According to the Department of Education, the Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) permits institutions to comply with information requests from the Department of Homeland Security in order to comply with the requirements of the program. 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 a University Principal Designated School Official (PDSO). For other information, international student records are entitled to the same FERPA protection that otherwise governs student education records in the United States.

If an Immigration Officer asks whether an individual works at DePaul or is present on that day you are not required to answer.

Regardless of the types of documents or information sought, you should not provide any documents or information unless instructed to by the Office of General Counsel. Inform any officer requesting documents or information that you are not obstructing their process, but need to contact DePaul’s legal counsel for assistance, and call (312) 362-8564 for instructions on responding to the request. 

Federal law prohibits hiding evidence, concealing individuals who are the targets of law enforcement activity, including immigration enforcement, or interfering with an arrest. Campus community members should never physically interfere with enforcement activity or place themselves in physical danger.

Conduct that interferes with operations and rises to the level of obstruction may expose faculty, staff and students to federal legal liability.

Anyone who learns that a student was detained by ICE should immediately contact James Dorsett at (312) 362-5171 or Gretchen Frickx at (312) 362-6595. Anyone who learns that a DePaul community member other than a student was detained by ICE should immediately contact Bob Wachowski at (773) 325-7762.

DePaul’s Public Safety Office does not ask anyone about their immigration status and does not create or maintain any records relating to the immigration status of members of the DePaul community. Public Safety would assist in enforcing a valid criminal warrant from any law enforcement agency, including ICE. Criminal warrants are issued when probable cause exists to believe the named subject in the warrant has committed a crime. 

International Student and Scholar Services published a website with guidance for students regarding immigration enforcement in Chicago, which includes ways international students can protect themselves.

DePaul has the following services available on campus:

• International Student & Scholar Services can assist with travel, visa and immigration advice to all F1 and J1 non-immigrant students.

• University Counseling & Psychological Services offers free, confidential, individual, and group counseling services for DePaul students. It also collaborates with faculty, staff, family, and friends who want to support student care, and offers psychoeducational workshops and presentations for a variety of topics including stress management.
  
  
• The Division of Mission and Ministry offers services and curricular and co-curricular programming to employees and students.
  
  
• The Dean of Students Office helps meet the urgent needs of students by providing clear and critical support structures in times of need and personal crises.
  
  
• The Office of Multicultural Student Success works to improve the retention and graduation rates of many students, including undocumented students.
  

• DePaul’s Cultural and Resource Centers provide co-curricular programs and physical spaces that center the lived experiences of marginalized communities at DePaul. The Centers aim to foster community and a sense of belonging for students with intersecting sociocultural identities through identity-centered exploration, holistic wellness, connection & belonging, and leadership & advocacy.

• The following entities have released Know Your Rights information:

• The Illinois Office of the Attorney General
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center
• Illinois Coalition For Immigrant and Refugee Rights
• National Immigrant Justice Center

• The Illinois Coalition For Immigrant and Refugee Rights published helpful lists, including:
• A list of local non-profit agencies providing free or low-cost assistance with immigration matters.
• A list of organizations that assist in multiple languages with Public Benefits, State Resource Centers, Food Pantries, Emergency Assistance, Financial Assistance, Housing, Utilities, and more.
• A list of nonprofit organizations that can assist with citizenship and DACA renewals. 

• The Illinois Immigration Information Hub’s website has a comprehensive guide with resources for Illinois’ immigrant communities: Illinois Immigration Information.

• The Office of the Mayor of Chicago has a page regarding the Protecting Chicago Initiative.