Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently released a statement advising local law enforcement to review their policies regarding immigration agents in the event of a possible Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) surge. Similarly, Grand Rapids Community College administrators have issued ICE response guidelines and clarified that campus police don’t have the legal authority to “obstruct or interfere with” federal law enforcement.
In his Jan. 16 email outlining what action students should take in response to seeing ICE on campus, Dr. Steven J. Triezenberg stated, “We want to make sure you feel safe, informed, and supported at Grand Rapids Community College.”
The rest of the email answered a few questions students may have regarding what rights and protections they have, as well as actions they should take if confronted by ICE officers on campus.
“GRCC respects the role and responsibilities of law enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels, and we do follow all applicable laws,” Triezenberg stated. “At the same time, we are committed to protecting student rights, privacy, and well-being, and to maintaining a welcoming campus where every student feels they belong.”
Despite the school’s stated commitment to cultivating a feeling of inclusion, students expressed mixed feelings about the email.
Jax Jackson, 18, of Grand Rapids, said, “When I saw it, I was glad that they were talking about it. I’m glad that they’re not just kind of ignoring it.”
Ana Bail, 23, of Grand Rapids, said she found the communication from the college reassuring. “I do, I guess, especially since they sent out a mass email. They’re actually taking precautions that they’re not for ICE or helping them out in any matters. So, that’s reassuring.”
Although some students may feel comforted by GRCC’s statement, others did not.
“I feel like it was a middle-of-the-road move,” Blaiser Edmond, 33, of Grand Rapids. “I mean, it’s not a policy that is protecting anyone… but it’s something. It’s more than a lot of places have given.”
After The Collegiate requested more information, Lyndsie Post, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, replied in an email, “Outside law enforcement does not have access to non-public campus spaces without proper legal authority.”
Triezenberg wrote a similar statement and wrote, “ICE and other law enforcement agencies can access public areas of campus, but if you see them, you are not required to answer questions, share your immigration status, or provide any information that might incriminate you.”
Students are not required to share information with ICE, and the school will provide certain protections. “GRCC will not share student education records or personal information with ICE or other agencies unless we’re legally required or a student gives GRCC written permission,” Triezenberg stated.
Post further explained in her email. “GRCC will not release student records or personal information except as required by law, which in almost all cases requires a valid subpoena,” Post wrote. “GRCC Police do not share class schedules, locations or other FERPA-protected information.”
Triezenberg noted, “We have no recent indication U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or any other outside law enforcement agency has been on our campuses.” While this has remained true thus far, as of the Jan. 16 email, “if students see ICE or any outside law enforcement on campus, they should contact the GRCC Police right away at 616-234-4910 or, from a campus phone, x4910.”
Calling GRCC police is a logical step to take if ICE is spotted on campus, but the guidance has students wondering what would happen next.
“What are they gonna do, if I see ICE and I tell GRCC police, what are the police gonna do?” Jackson said. “Who’s gonna be involved?”
The Collegiate reached out to General Counsel Brett Meyer for further clarification, but he did not respond. Among other questions, The Collegiate attempted to ask Meyer if an alert would be sent to students and staff if ICE came to campus.
In response, Post sent an email to The Collegiate. “I am responding on behalf of General Counsel Brett Meyer and I hope this response provides further clarity,” Post wrote. “In keeping with our Emergency Communications policy, GRCC typically will not send an alert to our campus community based solely on the presence of an outside law enforcement agency on campus.”
Post reiterated a response from a previous email regarding what actions GRCC Police will take once notified of ICE’s presence.
“GRCC Police will make contact with external law enforcement who may be present on campus to determine why they are present,” Post stated. “GRCC police may seek to move conversations to a private location to limit disruption and avoid drawing attention to students.”
The Collegiate also asked if GRCC Police would allow ICE to remove a student from campus.
In response, Post stated, “…while GRCC Police are not legally permitted to obstruct or interfere with external law enforcement agencies, they will take all appropriate steps to ensure our campus remains a safe and welcoming place for all students and members of our community.”
Another question students may have, is what is considered a “private location” on campus, as this might cause more stress for those who are worried about possibly being removed from campus. Keeping the actions of ICE as public as possible is a way to keep citizens informed and allow any arrest to be documented and shared with relatives of anyone who could be detained.
Post stated, “A private space is not the same as a “non-public” space on campus as outlined within the College’s Free Speech and Expressive Activity Policy.”
The policy reads under the Non-Public Forums, “Areas of the College that are non-public forums specifically include the interior of any College building or premises and any other area, as determined by the College, that are not designated as space open for public communication, speech or expressive activity, and are instead reserved for the College’s official activities.”
Alternatively, the policy states that Open-Public Forms are, “All publicly accessible, outdoor areas on property owned or controlled by GRCC are considered to be open public forums for speech expressive activities that are lawful and do not otherwise violate this policy.”
Post’s response, along with the policy, clarifies that while privacy can be provided to a student who is confronted by ICE, this is not the same as a “non-public” space and would be out of view of other students, to minimize any disturbance.
Vanity Brown, 21, of Grand Rapids, said, “I mean if they’re (GRCC Police), you know, trying to prevent them from taking people, then yeah, that’s fine with me.”
Post made it clear that campus police “do not carry out enforcement activities on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Their role is to ensure safety, protect students’ rights and manage any law enforcement presence in a way that respects student privacy, dignity and the normal operations of campus.”
In response to questions directed to Meyer, Post also stated, “The GRCC Police Department does not inquire about a person’s immigration status during routine interactions, nor does it detain individuals based on immigration violations. Immigration enforcement is the sole responsibility of federal authorities, whereas the GRCC Police Department is focused on campus safety and security.”
Students shared their feelings regarding campus safety.
“Yeah, inside the buildings I feel safe. Like, I’m white,” Jackson said. “I’m not a targeted group.”
Edmond feels less comfortable and shared, “No, I haven’t (felt safe) since 2016… I’m a Black queer student.”
Brown recognized that GRCC is a public campus and shared, “I’m a little worried. I’m worried they’re gonna come in here and try to get students and staff.”
Edmond said, “I wish they would have offered more protection for international students.”
Jackson knows students who are concerned about ICE coming to campus and would appreciate a heads-up if they do. “I know I have some friends who are really scared,” Jackson said. “…It would be nice to know that they would say something if ICE were reported on campus. Basically, their emergency plan. Like the same thing you’d want to know in a fire drill… just knowing if they’re taking any extra precautions.”
If any students or family members “are detained by ICE or other law enforcement officials, information about legal aid is available in the student resources section of the GRCC website,” Triezenberg wrote in his January message to students.
Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the additional campus resources GRCC provides. “If concerns about immigration status and potential detention are creating high levels of anxiety, resources for emotional support and mental health are also available through the Center for Counseling and Well-Being section of the GRCC website,” Triezenberg stated.
The Collegiate contacted Triezenberg and the GRCC Police Chief, Rebecca Whitman, for additional comment, but Post in Marketing and Communications responded on their behalf.
