Other Guidance

This page compiles and summarizes advice from various external resources about your rights if you are contacted by federal law enforcement agencies. It is not a substitute for legal advice.

The university does not share information with anyone, including law enforcement authorities, about immigration status, religion, nationality, ethnicity or other information about individual students without a student’s permission, unless presented with a judicially issued subpoena or other legally binding requirement. Immigration enforcement is the responsibility of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, not the university.

If you find yourself in an emergency situation, during business hours Monday through Friday, contact the Bechtel International Center; staff will assist you in determining how to respond, and will assist in locating an attorney if appropriate.

If you need to reach someone in the evening or on the weekend, follow the instructions below.  The contacts listed will be able to connect you with support services:

Know Your Rights When You Make Decisions

The following advice is compiled and summarized from various external resources about your rights if individual community members are contacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI):

If you are contacted by ICE or the FBI, you can ask the law enforcement agent for his/her name and the name of his/her federal agency. Remember that contact by ICE or the FBI does not mean that you have done anything wrong or that you are under investigation. Most of the time, there is no rush to respond, and you can tell the agent you will call (or email) him/her back after you consider the request. Staff at the Bechtel Center can assist you with deciding how to respond, and can connect you to an attorney if appropriate.

• You have the right to remain silent. You are not obligated to answer questions from an FBI or law enforcement agent.
• You have the right to ask to speak to an attorney. Your refusal to talk to an agent may not be used against you if you say, “I want to speak to an attorney before speaking with you.” Even if you have started a conversation, you are allowed to tell the agent you do not want to answer any more questions without a lawyer present. Asking for an attorney does not make you more suspicious.
• You are not required to admit an agent to your home or apartment, unless the agent has an appropriate warrant. If the agent wants to enter your home, you have the right to ask for a warrant, which is a document signed by a judge saying the agent has the right to enter your home.