If U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Comes to Campus

Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) Briefing for Northern Illinois University Students, Staff, Faculty and Administrators

This briefing outlines steps for NIU faculty and staff to follow if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents come to campus. The document is not legal advice, but rather guiding principles to ensure legal compliance while protecting the rights and privacy of students, staff and faculty.


Immigration Access to Public versus Limited Access Areas of NIU Campus

As a public university, Northern Illinois University (NIU) welcomes the public to a significant portion of its campus. However, access is restricted or limited in areas due to privacy concerns, operational needs or safety considerations. Federal immigration enforcement officers are subject to these same access restrictions and must adhere to university protocols when entering non-public spaces.

It is important to note that ICE or federal Department of Homeland Security officials may be on campus for reasons unrelated to enforcement actions such as career recruitment events and guest lectures.

Due to our international programs, the university must report certain information about students such as F-1 or J-1 visa status to ICE. This reporting is routine, and the university must comply with on-site visits to review records when requested.

Access Categories

Access Category Description Examples
Public Access Areas open to the general public where entry is not restricted or limited. These spaces are freely accessible and may include outdoor and common-use areas. Library common areas, Northwestern Medicine, Counseling and Consultation Services, Holmes Student Center common areas, walkways, Convocation Center, cultural centers, hallways in academic buildings, dining areas open to the public, unrestricted access buildings and streets.
Restricted Access Areas that require a key card, locked doors, or monitored entryways for access are protected to maintain safety and privacy. Student rooms in residence halls, locked classrooms, administrative offices and restricted research laboratories.
Limited Access Spaces are generally left unlocked during work hours but are not considered public due to their function. Access to these areas may require special permission or operational needs. Faculty offices, classrooms in session, locker rooms, kitchens, food preparation areas, maintenance areas, storage rooms and other operational facilities.

NIU Campus Protocol – ICE Visits

In the event that non-NIU law enforcement come to NIU’s DeKalb, Naperville or Rockford locations to inquire about NIU students, faculty, staff, visiting scholars or guests, members of our campus community are asked to do the following:

Remain Calm and Professional

Stay composed to avoid escalating the situation.

Contact NIU Police

  • Refer them to the NIU Police, and immediately call NIU Police at 815-753-1212 to notify them that ICE is on campus.
  • NIU Police officers will be dispatched to the location to address the situation and identify the appropriate university personnel to involve.
  • Do not accept any materials from the ICE agent(s) and direct them to work directly with NIU Police.

Forward Email or Phone Inquiries

  • If you are contacted by an external party that is outside of your regular activities or interactions, via email or phone, requesting information about students, faculty or staff, please immediately forward that information to inquiries@niu.edu.

Print a contact card to keep with you for easy access to these protocols.


Frequently Asked Questions

Immigration Customs Enforcement Roles/Responsibilities—NIU Faculty and Staff

This FAQ is not legal advice, but guiding principles designed to ensure NIU faculty and staff understand their rights and responsibilities when interacting with immigration enforcement officers while protecting the privacy and safety of our campus community. Contact Dr. Matt Streb for assistance if you have further questions or concerns.

I am a faculty member who works in a restricted-access building. Am I obligated to provide access to federal immigration officers?

NIU is required to provide access for federal immigration officers to a restricted-access building if the officer(s) provide a valid judicial warrant.

  • If the immigration enforcement officer has a valid judicial warrant, then the answer is yes.
  • If the officer does not have a valid judicial warrant, then the answer is no.

Refer the officer to NIU Police, and immediately call NIU Police at 815-753-1212 to let them know law enforcement is on campus. NIU Police will come to your location to assist in the matter and will also contact the appropriate university administrators to determine the appropriate next steps.

If an immigration enforcement officer requests personal or personally identifiable information about a student, including class rosters, etc., am I obligated to provide it?

No. As an NIU employee, per federal privacy laws, you must maintain the confidentiality of personal and personally identifiable information, including student records.

  • The university generally requires immigration enforcement officers to produce a valid subpoena authorizing the disclosure of such records.
  • Federal officers typically have no greater access to university records than any member of the public unless they present a valid subpoena.
  • Guidelines about the confidentiality of student records can be found on the Registration and Records website.

If you are asked for student personal information by an individual who identified themselves as a federal immigration officer, regardless of whether they present a subpoena, inform the officer that you need to contact university administration and immediately contact NIU Police 815-753-1212 for further guidance. NIU Police will then contact the appropriate administrator(s) needed.

I am a community advisor working in the residence halls. Am I obligated to provide access to the residence hall’s floors or rooms by federal immigration officers?

It depends. If the immigration enforcement officer has a certain kind of warrant, then the answer is yes. But, if the immigration enforcement officer does not have that kind of warrant, the answer is no. Please immediately refer the officer to NIU Police and call NIU Police at 815-753-1212 to notify the police that agents are on campus.

Can a student who is a resident in an NIU residence hall refuse to allow a federal immigration enforcement officer to enter their residence hall room?

Generally, yes. A residential hall room is considered a limited access area and cannot be legally accessed by immigration enforcement officers without a valid criminal warrant or the voluntary consent of the occupant. A student generally need not allow entry to any law enforcement officer who is not in possession of a criminal warrant, regardless of what that officer might say.

I am a staff member (financial aid officer, residence director, human resource officer, for example). If an immigration enforcement officer requests personal and personally identifiable information about a student or employee, am I obligated to provide the requested information?

Personally identifiable educational and university health records are protected by various privacy laws, including the Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA). As a university employee, you must maintain the confidentiality of these records. If you receive a request for personally identifiable information or documents, or if a federal immigration enforcement officer gives you a warrant or subpoena seeking such records, before providing any information, you should confirm that you are authorized to provide access to the specified records or information. Please contact NIU Police at 815-753-1212 and they will help facilitate and involve the appropriate university administrators to be compliant with federal privacy laws.

Contact Us

Undocumented Student Resource Center
Northern Illinois University
Campus Life Building 230
545 Lucinda Avenue
DeKalb, IL 60115
undocumented@niu.edu

Connect With Us