What If U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) Comes to Campus

It depends.  

ICE officers can access publicly accessible areas of Millikin’s private campus (e.g., open walkways or public events) without a warrant.   

Non-public areas (classrooms, offices, residence halls) are protected unless ICE has a judicial warrant. Included in this category of limited-access spaces are campus buildings in which access is restricted by a University-issued ID card, locked doors or monitored entryways, including University residence halls. 

Limited-access spaces also include buildings and spaces that may be unlocked during normal operations, including administrative or faculty offices, classrooms and research laboratories. 

Alert Public Safety at 217.464.8888 or 8888 on a campus phone that an immigration enforcement officer is present on campus.   

No.  

You cannot prohibit federal immigration enforcement officers from coming on Millikin’s campus to enforce federal law.  

Alert Public Safety at 217.464.8888 or 8888 on a campus phone that an immigration enforcement officer is present on campus.

No.  

As a Millikin employee, you are required to maintain the confidentiality of personal and personally identifiable information, including student records. 

• The University requires immigration enforcement officers to produce a valid subpoena authorizing the disclosure of such records. 
• Federal officers typically have no greater access to university records than any member of the public, unless they present a valid subpoena. 
• Guidelines about the confidentiality of student records can be found on Millikin’s Disclosure of FERPA Rights website. 

Alert Public Safety at 217.464.8888 or 8888 on a campus phone that an immigration enforcement officer is present on campus and asking for student identifiable information. 

• If the immigration enforcement officer has a valid judicial warrant, then the answer is yes. 
• If the officer does not have a valid judicial warrant, then the answer is no. 

If yes:  

Step 1: Ask the officer for their name, identification number and agency affiliation. 

Step 2: Inform the officer that you are not obstructing their process but must consult University administration.  

Contact Public Safety at 217.464.8888 or 8888 on a campus phone and they will help determine the appropriate next steps. 

No.  

You cannot prohibit a federal immigration enforcement officer from coming on campus to enforce federal law.   

Alert Public Safety at 217.464.8888 or 8888 on a campus phone that an immigration enforcement officer is present on campus.

Generally, yes.

A residential hall room is considered a limited-access area and cannot be legally accessed by immigration enforcement officers without a valid criminal warrant or the voluntary consent of the occupant. A student generally need not allow entry to any law enforcement officer who is not in possession of a criminal warrant, regardless of what that officer might say.

Alert Public Safety at 217.464.8888 or 8888 on a campus phone that an immigration enforcement officer is present on campus.

Generally, no.

An ICE officer cannot enter an off-campus apartment without either a criminal warrant or the student’s consent.

Students’ rights remain the same whether they live in on-campus University housing or an off-campus apartment. Students are not required to allow entry to any law enforcement officer who does not possess a valid criminal warrant, regardless of what the officer may say.

Administrative or civil warrants do not grant officers the authority to enter a residence without consent. If an immigration officer presents such a warrant, it is up to the student to decide whether or not to grant entry.

However, if a law enforcement officer presents a criminal search or arrest warrant signed by a judge, they are legally allowed to enter the residence or arrest the individual named in the warrant without the student’s consent.

In all cases, individuals have the right to the remain silent under the 5th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and do not need to answer questions, or sign or provide any documents without a lawyer present. Know your rights on immigration in Illinois. 

No. 

Millikin’s Public Safety officers will not ask any Millikin student, faculty or staff member about their immigration status. They will not arrest anyone solely on the basis of their immigration status. They do not act on detainers issued by ICE.

The only time officers are required to take immigration enforcement action is when a judge has signed a warrant, but the Millikin Public Safety officers would not typically be involved in immigration enforcement under normal circumstances. 

In other situations not related to immigration, officers may inquire about an individual’s country of origin to notify their consulate of an arrest, but that inquiry does not include questions about immigration status.

Additionally, Illinois state law prohibits law enforcement from acting on federal detainers or stopping, arresting or searching an individual based solely on immigration status (5 ILCS 805/Illinois TRUST Act). As of June 21, 2019, the Keep Illinois Families Together Act (5 ILCS 835) officially prohibits state and local law enforcement in the state of Illinois from being deputized to enforce federal immigration law. 

Millikin offers additional resources for community members who may feel hesitant about contacting Millikin Public Safety. For emergencies, always call 911.

For non-emergency safety concerns, you may also reach out to the following offices:

Center for International Education 217.424.3758 or cie@millikin.edu   
Human Resources 217.362.6416 or hr@millikin.edu   

Student Affairs 217.424.6395 or studentaffairs@millikin.edu   

Student Success Center 217.362.6424 or studentsuccesscenter@millikin.edu  

Student Mental and Behavioral Health Services  
Public Safety 217.464.8888