Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Guidance

This guidance is offered to the Rio campus community with support from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.  Generally, all local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, which would include ICE, coordinate with Campus Police when they have any enforcement needs on campus.  While we anticipate that process would be followed in the event of a federal agency presence on campus, if law enforcement, including ICE, comes to your classroom space or office, contact Campus Police at 740-245-7286.

• Rio Grande employees and students should not obstruct, physically interfere with, or provide false information to any law enforcement officials, including ICE.
• Ohio law, Revised Code Section 9.63, requires state and local employees to comply with any lawful request for assistance made by federal authorities carrying out any federal immigration or terrorism investigation.  ICE officers are federal employees tasked with certain responsibilities pursuant to federal law and may freely access public areas of the campus.  
• ICE officers must have a warrant to enter non-public areas of campus.  Non-public areas typically include resident halls, individual offices that are closed to the public, and active classrooms when the door is shut, and instruction is ongoing.  There is no general requirement to provide student information to ICE officers or to permit entry into non-public spaces without an appropriate subpoena or warrant; however, Rio employees should not obstruct, interfere with, or provide false information to ICE officers.  Anyone asked by ICE to grant access to a non-public area of the college should indicate they do not have the authority to grant such access and immediately call Campus Police at 740-245-7286.
• Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), colleges must not disclose student information (including immigration status) to third parties, including ICE, without the student’s written consent or a valid judicial warrant.  If you receive a request for student information, please forward the to the Registrar, located in Rhodes Hall, or they may call 740-245-7370
• The Fourth Amendment protects students from unreasonable searches and seizures, meaning law enforcement, including ICE, cannot enter a private dorm room without a warrant.  In the unlikely event this happens, contact Campus Police at 740-245-7286.
• Noncitizens are required to carry evidence of registration with them at all times.  Failure to carry evidence of registration may result in criminal penalties, financial penalties, and/or removal from the US.  If you are traveling with international students, please be sure they have proof of registration with them at all times.