U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have begun to conduct raids across the country starting Jan. 26, 2025.
The raids started out as a means of targeting undocumented migrants who were suspected of committing a crime, but some undocumented individuals who are not suspected criminals have been swept up in these raids.
Due to recent policy changes from the Trump administration, ICE is now allowed to conduct investigations in previously restricted areas such as churches, hospitals and schools.
As uncertainty has kicked up as to whether or not an area is susceptible to a raid, some students have questioned what Utah Tech University’s policy is should ICE come to campus.
The university sent out a school-wide email Feb. 2 titled “University Response to Federal & State Policy Changes.” In the written response, Ali Threet, dean of students, said how the policy changes will affect UT students.
The email said students’ private information “will not be released to any individual, agency, or organization without the student’s written consent or a court order.”
When reached out to her for personal comment, Threet did not respond.
Included in the official response is the establishment of a task force that is dedicated to:
- Reviewing new policies and their implications
- Providing guidance and resources
- Addressing concerns while upholding applicable laws and regulations
Tasha Toy, assistant vice president and chief compliance officer, gave insight into concerns or fears that some students may be facing.
“We don’t want to downplay it, but we don’t want to have this heightened sense of angst, because students are here to get an education,” Toy said. “We see and understand what’s going on in the national spotlight, but we also have a duty to create an atmosphere of education for our students to feel protected.
The official policy of Utah Tech, when and if ICE comes to campus, is that the agency will be in contact with the chief of police and any investigations will be coordinated with them, Toy said. ICE will need to have the proper documentation and judge-signed warrants if they want to make an arrest.
Students are not required by law to give any personal information and UT will not give out personal information unless it is ordered to do so by a judge-signed document. Students can also go to the registrar’s office and request to opt out of having their directory information shared.
Ella Parsons, a senior sociology major from Avon, Indiana, has been handing out information cards to other students who may be concerned about their rights. These cards, officially called Red Cards, inform the reader what their rights are while they live in the U.S., whether they are documented or undocumented individuals.
“You can say that you are not interested in speaking about your immigration without a lawyer present,” Parsons said. “Knowing your rights can give you some more protection.”
Other signs with similar sentiments have been posted around campus. These flyers advise people to know what to say and what their rights are in a situation where ICE is questioning the person or has shown up to their place of residence.
Students at UT can look to the official response released by the university for further insight into the university’s policy should an ICE raid occur on campus.
