Frequently Asked Questions: Visits to Campus from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

How is the University responding to reports of ICE visiting around and on campus?

Is the University referring students to ICE?

  • No.
  • Because we have a Student and Exchange Visitor program, the University has certain legal obligations and reporting requirements to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) in order for our students in F and M visa categories to participate in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. 
  • Participants are informed about this reporting requirement in advance and must consent to participate in the program. Otherwise, the University requires a judicial warrant or subpoena in order to release protected student information.

What should we look to for questions about the University’s protocol for visits from ICE?

  • Please refer to the publicly posted protocol, also detailed below.

Can ICE agents access campus or University buildings without a warrant?

  • In general, ICE agents must have a judicial warrant or subpoena to access non-public areas (areas not open to the public such as classrooms, housing, and areas requiring CUID).
    • Exigent circumstances (for example, the risk of imminent harm to people or property) may allow for access to University buildings or people without consent or a warrant. Faculty/staff should not interfere and should immediately contact Public Safety as described below. Faculty/staff should document the activities they observe, if possible, without obstructing the agents.
  • Areas open to the general public are similarly accessible to ICE agents, and they may enter without a warrant.

What should faculty/staff do if ICE agents ask to enter non-public areas of the University or approach for information about another individual?

  • Ask for credentials. In a professional and courteous manner, ask for:
    • The agents’ credentials (full name, agency/organization, badge number, etc.)
    • A business card; and
    • Any legal documents (warrant, subpoena, etc.).
  • Ask them to wait. Ask the agents to wait to enter any non-public areas until contacting Public Safety at the numbers listed below. Public Safety will contact the Office of the General Counsel and will help coordinate the University’s response. 
    • It is preferable for faculty/staff to first call Public Safety directly. If this is not possible based on the circumstances, faculty/staff may connect an ICE agent directly to Public Safety.
  • Do not accept service of a warrant or subpoena.
    • In response to questions or the attempted service of a warrant or subpoena, you can say: “I am not authorized by the University to grant permission to enter non-public areas, provide information about individual students or employees, or accept service of documentation on behalf of the University,” then refer the agents to Public Safety and the Office of the General Counsel. 

What should faculty/staff or others do if they observe ICE agents conducting enforcement activities on campus or in public spaces near campus? 

  • Immediately contact Public Safety.
    • Morningside: 212-854-5555
    • Manhattanville: 212-853-3333
    • Medical Center: 212-305-7979
    • Lamont: 845-365-8555

What is Columbia’s capacity to prevent ICE agents without warrants from accessing University residential buildings?

  • Per the protocol, ICE agents must have a judicial warrant or subpoena to access non-public areas (areas not open to the public such as classrooms, housing, and areas requiring CUID).
  • We are reinforcing protocol training efforts with all Residential staff, including door attendants, to ensure adherence to the protocol.
  • It’s good to keep in mind basic safety habits:
    • Ensure doors close and lock behind you when entering or exiting the building. Do not hold the door open for others unless you know they are fellow residents.
    • Prevent unauthorized access (“piggybacking”) by not allowing unknown individuals to follow you inside.
    • Verify visitors before granting entry. If you are expecting a visitor, confirm their identity via the intercom before buzzing them in. Do not let in strangers or hold the door open for deliveries not addressed to you.

Is Columbia’s protocol regarding visits to campus from ICE new? When was it revised?

  • Columbia has had a consistent protocol in place on visits to campus from ICE. The written protocol was posted and circulated to students, faculty, and staff, given the number of questions that have arisen, particularly following the Department of Homeland Security’s rescission on January 20, 2025, of the “Protected Areas” guidelines that had referenced colleges and universities as among the protected areas.

Can faculty and other members of the University community distribute “know your rights” cards?

  • While the University does not provide personal legal guidance to individual members of our community, we encourage everyone to learn more about these issues.  The Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration provides detailed resources that are focused on increasing public understanding of how immigration policies and practices impact our students, campuses, and communities.  Checklists and tips are available for campus members and for advisors on campuses.  The University's International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) is also available to help our international students and scholars navigate their own personal circumstances. 

Will the University provide legal support to students who are visited, apprehended, or detained by ICE? What are the University’s procedures for when a student is identified as being investigated by DHS?

  • Columbia is committed to complying with all legal obligations and supporting our student body and campus community. We are also committed to the legal rights of our students and urge all members of the community to be respectful of those rights. 
  • Students who think they may need immigration counsel should reach out to their ISSO advisor for a list of available resources.
  • The Office of General Counsel also offers links to legal resources in the Help for the Public section of the website.
  • Students seeking referrals to pro-bono legal representation can email [email protected] and learn more here.

What steps are being taken to ensure that international students are protected both on campus and during any travel for spring break? Who can students receive support from?

  • The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) frequently provides updates, travel tips, resources, and information to international students.
  • They have issued guidance about spring break travel available here, similar to guidance previously provided in January 2025 and in 2017.

What is the visa process for international students (both undergraduate and graduate) to study in the United States?

  • Most international students come to the U.S. in F-1 status. (Learn more about F-1 status).
    • In order to obtain F-1 status, a person must be enrolled in a program or course of study that culminates in a degree, diploma, or certificate and the university in which they are enrolled must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept international students.
    • Universities do not make determinations on visa eligibility.
  • In addition, international students must qualify for an I-20.  To qualify for an I-20 one must:
    • be admitted to a full-time program of study(and maintain full-time enrollment every term)
    • document the financial resources to cover tuition, fees and living expenses of the first academic year and have a plan to finance any additional time
    • authorize the University to provide information to the Department of Homeland Security so that the student can participate in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.

Both the F-1 and the I-20 must be valid for a student to remain enrolled in a school and remain legally in the United States if the program requires in-person attendance on campus. Universities do not have the ability to reinstate an I-20 that is terminated and/or an F-1 student visa that is revoked by the government.