Administrators at Grand Rapids Community College have made it clear that they cannot interfere with the jurisdiction of external law enforcement, most notably Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), but they will work to keep students safe while on campus. When asked about how protection will be offered to students, The Collegiate was told that, essentially, students are entitled to privacy. For instance, anything regarding immigration status, information that could be incriminating, education records, or other personal information, the college will not share unless legally authorized. Students were also told that they are not required to answer any questions if approached by an ICE officer. In addition to privacy, students’ rights will also be protected.
What does this look like, though? What rights do students have?
Administrators have not specified which rights students are granted, and it seems they will continue to stay quiet on the matter.
Although some students may want the college to explicitly spell out what rights they have, The Collegiate understands that GRCC must respect the role and responsibilities of federal authorities. Moreover, a way to ensure safety for students on campus is to avoid putting a target on the college. Additionally, the Collegiate understands that while GRCC administrators can send out a campus-wide email, it is not their responsibility to monitor whether or not students pay attention to their inboxes, which may unfortunately get buried or ignored.
Furthermore, The Collegiate believes that ultimately, students are responsible for understanding and knowing their rights. In a world where ICE terrorizes innocent people on the streets, students must educate themselves on what their rights are. This is not the time to sit around and wait for things to happen, or much less, do nothing. Even without the overwhelming and ominous pressure from the government on civil liberties, it’s always important for young adults to stay informed and knowledgeable.
Now, some of you may be wondering: What are my rights?
While there is an extensive list for a multitude of scenarios, The Collegiate will discuss what rights seem applicable to GRCC’s setting with regard to ICE officers. To provide students with such information, The Collegiate reached out to Ann Mullen, the Communications Director of The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan, who stated permission to use their information.
The ACLU website is a great resource that publicizes “Know Your Rights” guides for various topics and issues. Among these, the webpage has stated what to do if confronted by law enforcement and military troops on the streets, or alternatively while on campus. The list, along with some helpful tips, are below:
- “Always remain calm and never physically resist or obstruct law enforcement. Keep your hands visible
- You may ask if you are free to leave at any point in your interaction. Say “Am I free to go?” If the answer is “yes” you are free to walk away. If the answer is no, you have been stopped and must remain where you are until you have been told that you are free to go
- You do not have to answer a government official’s questions except if you are stopped for certain traffic, parking, or pedestrian offenses, when you must provide your name and address if asked. There are additional considerations worth keeping in mind if you are not a citizen discussed below. Outside these settings, if you don’t want to answer a question say, “I want to remain silent.”
- Government officials cannot detain you without reasonable suspicion that you have or are about to commit a crime or are in the process of doing so.
- Take mental notes about what’s happening– including what occurred before you were stopped, what the official says and does while you are stopped, and whether anyone is documenting what occurred – so you can tell a lawyer if you think your rights were violated.
- If an official asks to search you or your belongings, you have the right to say no, but do not obstruct access. The official may have lawful authority to conduct the search anyway. If the official begins conducting a search, say clearly: “I do not give consent to a search.”
- Remember you do not have to unlock your phone or give government officials your password without a warrant. For additional security, turn off biometric identification such as Face ID.”
Beyond general rights, the ACLU has also included what to do if you are questioned about your immigration status:
- “Do not lie about your citizenship status, your name, or provide false documentation.
- Generally, you have the right to remain silent and do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship (or anything else). It’s important to note that if you invoke this right and/or do not have proper papers, an immigration officer might detain you for longer to verify your citizenship status.
- If you are not a U.S. citizen, the law may require you to carry specific immigration documents for your specific immigration and provide them when a government official requests your immigration papers
- Official identification from a country besides the United States does not establish your right to be in the United States and may cause government officials to view you with greater suspicion.
- Carry with you evidence of having been in the U.S. for longer than two years, such as mail that you have received at your home address with a postmark or a signed lease as these may help reduce the risk of being put in a deportation process without the ability to argue your case.
- For more information about specific immigration statuses, and what documentation is required to be carried by a person with that status, you should consult an attorney.”
Although this is not a comprehensive list of all possible rights, The Collegiate encourages students to continue their own research, not just for themselves, but for their friends and their families. Now is the time to know your rights, stay informed, and be prepared to stand up for yourself and your community.
