How to Respond to Immigration Enforcement on Campus

See also: FAQ for faculty and staff.

In the unlikely event that ICE or non-LRPD law enforcement comes to your work area (office, classroom, etc.), please do the following:

1. Refer the agent to your manager or supervisor's office or department office. If you cannot reach your manager, supervisor, or department office, contact Los Rios Police Department dispatch directly at (916) 558-2221 or extension 2221, or use the Los Rios SAFE app to inform them of the situation and ask for guidance.

Best Practices for Keeping Our College Community Safe

• Inform the student of their rights. If you can communicate with the student, advise them that they have the right to remain silent and to request legal representation. They are not required to disclose their immigration status without legal counsel present.
• Remind individuals in your workplace that they have the right to remain silent. Do not direct or order them to stay silent. Students/faculty/staff are not required to disclose their immigration status without legal counsel present.
• Conduct yourself professionally when interacting with federal immigration enforcement officials and do not engage in casual conversation with them.
• Do not resist if ICE agents force their way in. Say "I do not consent to your entry," but do not physically resist. (Source: ACLU NorCal: Know Your Rights if ICE Confronts You).
• Do not sign documents.

See also: FAQ for faculty and staff.

In the unlikely event that ICE or non-LRPD law enforcement comes to your work area, please do the following:

1. Verify the agents' credentials and purpose. Politely request identification and business cards from the agents and inquire about the purpose of their visit. This ensures that they are official representatives and clarifies their intent. Document the interaction.
2. Call the Los Rios Police Department immediately at (916) 558-2221 or extension 2221 to inform them of the situation and ask for guidance.
   • Do not disclose information about students, faculty, or staff, without direction from the Los Rios Police Department or General Counsel's Office.
   • LRPD will communicate with appropriate district and campus legal experts and administration to ensure that all student and employee rights are being protected under the law.

Warrants

1. If ICE or non-LRPD law enforcement presents a warrant:
   1. Ask for identification and to see the warrant.
   2. Write down the officer or agent's name, contact information, and badge number.
   3. Make sure the warrant has the correct address for your workplace.
   4. Review the warrant to see what areas and items they are authorized to search. Note: ICE and non-LRPD law enforcement are not authorized to search areas or inspect items not described in the warrant.
   5. Call LRPD immediately at (916) 558-2221, extension 2221, or use Los Rios' SAFE app. Tell Dispatch what is happening and ask them to come to your classroom/work area.
   6. You can remind individuals in your classroom or workplace that they have the right to remain silent. Do not direct or order them to remain silent.
   7. LRPD may review the warrant and determine the next steps. Most likely, if all the warrant information is accurate and it has been signed by a judge, you may be required to allow law enforcement to enter. In many cases, if they have a judicial warrant they will simply enter your classroom or work area. This is legally permissible.
   8. Always take notes on what they did and where they looked. In many cases, if they have a judicial warrant they will simply enter your classroom or work area. This is legally permissible.
2. If ICE or non-LRPD law enforcement does not have a warrant:
   1. Tell the officers, “I do not consent to you entering my classroom, office, or workspace.” Insist that the officers remain outside the classroom.
   2. Call LRPD immediately at (916) 558-2221, extension 2221, or use Los Rios' SAFE app. Tell Dispatch what is happening and ask them to come to your classroom/work area.
   3. Tell the agents/officers that LRPD is on the way and they will need to make their request directly to LRPD and follow district policy. Remind them that they may not enter your classroom.
   4. You can remind individuals in your classroom or workplace that they have the right to remain silent. Do not direct or order them to remain silent.

Best Practices for Keeping Our College Community Safe

1. Maintain a safe environment. Ensure that the presence of law enforcement does not disrupt the learning environment or cause undue stress to students, faculty, and staff. If necessary, suggest moving the discussion to a private location away from the classroom.
2. Document the encounter. Keep a detailed record of the interaction, including the agents' names and badge numbers, the date and time, and the specifics of their request. This documentation may be important for any future legal considerations.
3. Inform the student/staff/faculty of their rights. If you can communicate with the student/staff/faculty, advise them that they have the right to remain silent and to request legal representation. They are not required to disclose their immigration status without legal counsel present.
4. Do not resist if ICE agents force their way in. Say "I do not consent to your entry," but do not physically resist. (Source: ACLU NorCal: Know Your Rights if ICE Confronts You)).
5. Do not sign documents.

In the unlikely event that ICE or non-Los Rios Police Department (LRPD) law enforcement approaches you on campus, it’s important to know your rights and how to respond.

Know Your Rights

• You have the right to remain silent. You can say:
  • "I reserve the right to remain silent based on my 5th Amendment rights under the US Constitution."
  • "I do not wish to speak with you, answer your questions, or sign any documents."
• Do not disclose your immigration status without legal counsel present.
• Do not sign any documents.
• Do not resist physically. If ICE agents force their way in, state: "I do not consent to your entry," but do not obstruct them.
• Conduct yourself professionally. Stay calm, and do not run, argue, or provide false information.
• Use a Red Card to assert your rights. See ILRC red cards and CHIRLA red cards.

If You See ICE on Campus

• In a classroom or center: Refer the officer to the instructor or office staff present.
• Anywhere on campus: Contact LRPD immediately at (916) 558-2221 (or extension 2221) or use the Los Rios SAFE app for guidance.

Legal Consultations

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), in collaboration with Los Rios Community College District, offers free virtual and in-person immigration consultations to Los Rios students, faculty, and staff. CHIRLA immigration services include:

• Immigration Relief Screenings
• DACA Renewals
• Advance Parole
• Naturalization/Citizenship
• Adjustment of Status
• Family-Based Immigration
• Know Your Rights

Our college offers both in-person and virtual consultations. To make an appointment with CHIRLA, visit Find Your Ally.

You are not required to state the nature of your case/question to a staff member to make an appointment with a legal representative.

Note: As of Spring 2025, a minimum of three in-person appointments must be scheduled for the CHIRLA representative to come to campus on designated days. In-person appointments are released one month in advance, and appointments beyond that timeframe may not appear in the scheduling system. If you schedule an in-person appointment, please be aware that CHIRLA may contact you if the modality of your appointment changes (e.g., from in-person to virtual). If you need urgent assistance and no appointments are available, please reach out to your college’s Undocumented Student Center for further support.

• California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice
  Email: info@ccijustice.org
  1999 Harrison St Suite 1800
  Oakland, CA 94612
• California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
  (916) 446-7901 or email: info@crlaf.org
  2210 K St #201, Sacramento, CA 95816
• Catholic Charities of California
  (916) 706-1539
  1107 9th Street #707, Sacramento, CA 95814
• Center for Workers Rights
  (916) 905-5857 or email: daniela.urban@rightscenter.org
  2741 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento, CA 95820
• McGeorge School of Law Immigration Clinic
  (916) 739-7191 or email: bnordahl@pacific.edu
  2925 34th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817
• Mexican Consulate of Sacramento
  (916) 329-3500 or email: sacramento@sre.gob.mx
  2093 Arena Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95834
• Opening Doors
  (916) 492-2591 ext. 238 or email: gina@openingdoorsinc.org
  1111 Howe Avenue #125, Sacramento, CA 95825
• Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
  (916) 456-1980 or email: communications@sacramentofoodbank.org
  1951 Bell Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95838
• Sacramento FUEL Network
  (916) 234-3734 or email: info@sacfuelnetwork.org
• UC Davis Legal Immigration Clinic
  (530) 752-7996 or email: krocha@ucdavis.edu
  One Shields Avenue, Building TB30, Davis, CA 95616
• World Relief Sacramento
  (916) 978-2650 or email: klewis@wr.org
  2233 Watt Avenue Ste. 110, Sacramento, CA 95825

• Asian Resources, Inc. – Call (916) 454-1892 or email info@asianresources.org.
• California Family Resource Center – Call (916) 993-7781 or email info@frcnca.org.
• La Familia Counseling Center – Call (916) 452-3601 or email info@crlaf.org.
• Latino Coalition for a Healthy California – Call (916) 448-3234 or email lchc@lchc.org.
• NorCal Resist – Call (916) 382-0256 or email norcalresist@gmail.com.
• Sacramento Covered – Call (916) 414-8333.
• Sacramento State Dreamer Resource Center – Call (916) 278-7241 or email saseep-sa10@csus.edu.
• UCD AB 540 & Undocumented Center – Call (530) 752-9538 or email undocumented@ucdavis.edu.

• Amnesty International
• California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office – Resources for Undocumented Students
• California Immigrant Policy Center – Call (916) 448-6762 or email info@caimmigrant.org.
• Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
• Council on American Islamic Council Relations
• International Rescue Committee Sacramento – Call (916) 482-0120 or email NorthernCalifornia@rescue.org.
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center
• Immigrants Rising
• Jewish Community Relations Council
• Immigration Advocates Network
• Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
• My Undocumented Life
• National Immigration Law Center – Call (213) 639-3900 or email reply@nilc.org.
• United We Dream

It is a public space, open to anyone in our community. Each campus has specific, unique spaces that may be interpreted as public or private. In general, any space where students or the public have unfettered access is considered public. The definition of "private space" is open to legal interpretation. We will do everything in our power to protect the privacy of classrooms and other private spaces; however, we cannot guarantee that law enforcement agencies share that same interpretation.

Posting signage may help clarify the difference between public and private space; however, we should be clear that signage is unlikely to prevent federal law enforcement from entering if that's their interest. The definition of "private space" is open to legal interpretation. We will do everything in our power to protect the privacy of classrooms and other private spaces; however, we cannot guarantee that law enforcement agencies share that same interpretation.

Yes, nothing prevents you from locking your classroom if it is something that you normally do. Faculty may choose to consider putting their classroom locked door policy in their class syllabus, establishing it as a common practice not necessarily related to immigration enforcement. Even if classroom doors are locked, law enforcement can still enter with a valid judicial warrant.

Respond with the following: "I am not authorized or trained to respond to your request (demand). Please wait while I call the LRPD (or my supervisor) for assistance. They are better prepared to assist you with your investigation."

We do not expect every Los Rios employee to be able to recognize or validate a judicial warrant. Any employee presented with a document that is suggested to be a warrant should contact the Los Rios Police Department immediately and let LRPD assess the document's validity. The employee can provide the federal authorities with a copy of the "White Card" with Los Rios immigration enforcement procedures (if you need copies of these, contact immigration@losrios.edu). The district does not advise any employee to obstruct access to law enforcement officials. If federal law enforcement will not wait for LRPD to arrive, we do not recommend impeding their access.

Yes. There are no statutes that prevent you from videoing your interaction with immigration enforcement authorities, so long as the recording does not impede the movement or interfere with the actions of the immigration officers.

Contact LRPD at (916) 558-2221. Allow them to authenticate the warrant.

Staff should contact LRPD at (916) 558-2221 and inform the federal agent to wait in the public area while LRPD arrives. Staff should not provide voluntary consent to the agent to enter non-public areas and should avoid providing information to any questions presented to protect the FERPA rights of students and staff.

If you acted within the scope of your employment and followed the white card's instructions, Los Rios will defend you.

Based on the specific circumstances and consistent with Los Rios collective bargaining agreements, Los Rios will work with the employee and labor union (if the employee is represented) to maintain the employee's job status (including employment and any possible disciplinary action) to the fullest extent possible while the employee is detained.

If a student or staff member is detained, please be prepared to provide LRPD and district officials with the name and, if possible, WID of any individual(s) detained. Staff should always contact LRPD first so LRPD can review the federal order before detention. If an individual is detained, LRPD will collect information regarding the federal agent, the federal order, the individual detained, the reason for detention, and any other relevant information.

Actions such as physically blocking doors, locking doors only when immigration enforcement authorities attempt to enter, or pushing an immigration enforcement agent. These may be considered an obstruction. Always call LRPD and follow the ICE information card. Never physically touch an immigration enforcement authority agent, as penalties are severe.

This is strongly discouraged. Such actions may be interpreted as aiding and abetting or harboring a fugitive, which carry serious legal consequences.

Staff should be aware that anyone who knowingly assists an individual in evading federal immigration authorities can be charged with a felony under federal law (8 USC § 1324) which prohibits "concealing or harboring" an individual who is in the United States illegally.

It is a felony to obstruct or intentionally interfere with a federal law enforcement agent. Please inform the federal agent that you do not consent to the agent's demand, but do not attempt to physically stop the agent. A physical altercation with a federal agent may result in arrest or physical injury.

You may be charged with 8 USC 1324, which is a federal offense. Staff should be aware that anyone who knowingly assists an individual in evading federal immigration authorities can be charged with a felony under federal law (8 USC § 1324) which prohibits "concealing or harboring" an individual who is in the United States illegally.

Under the Constitution, every individual has the right to remain silent without repercussions. Immigration enforcement authorities may still exercise their enforcement objectives if they have a judicial warrant, however that does not limit your right under the 5th Amendment to remain silent or ask for an attorney.

Yes, trusted community resources can be shared; that is not a violation of the law.