President Donald Trump’s executive order allows immigration officers to enter traditionally off-limits places, like houses of worship, schools and colleges, to detain undocumented immigrants. But higher education staff and faculty are preparing on how to best protect their students. Of the nearly 250-thousand undocumented immigrants living in Maryland, more than 10-thousand of them attend colleges and universities in the state. That means that more than two-point-five percent of Maryland college students are undocumented. Diego Sánchez, with the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, says work is being done to educate students, staff and faculty about their rights if questioned by federal immigration officers.
"'Know Your Rights' materials are being distributed widely, ensuring that all members of the campus community, citizens and non-citizens alike, understand their legal protections and how to exercise them, reinforcing student privacy protections and limiting the disclosure of sensitive immigration-related information."
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement the rule was meant to untie the hands of immigration officers – and allow them to pursue those with criminal histories.
The National Immigration Law Center says federal immigration officers are allowed to be in public places on campuses – the same as any other member of the public. But ICE agents can not access private areas without a warrant. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten says Trump’s executive order undermines bedrock principles on college campuses, including academic freedom.
"Higher education should be the bastion of free ideas and academic freedom because how do you create new things? How do you innovate? How do you imagine if you don't actually create academic freedom?"
The National Immigration Law Center also advises that employees on campuses are not required to provide documents, grant access to buildings, or assist immigration officials in any way.