Following President Trump’s inauguration, there have been unconfirmed reported sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the Seattle area, allegedly entering businesses and other public places to detain undocumented individuals. These reports led to concerns among students and faculty at Seattle Central College about the possibility of ICE agents entering campus in search of undocumented students.
Fortunately, there are policies and procedures that Central has in place to help protect students from ICE agents. Many of these follow the guidelines of the Keep Washington Working Act published in May 2020, which include the following:
Immigration enforcement officials intending to enter Central must be directed to the Campus Safety and Security Department, where security staff will verify their credentials and the nature of their business on campus. Security staff will also document any attempts to access student records.
It’s important to note that neither ICE nor U.S. marshals can detain students in public spaces without a warrant signed by a judge or a valid court order.
President Trump’s Executive Order 14148 rescinded the Department of Homeland Security’s guidelines that designated schools, churches, and hospitals as safe spaces against immigration officials. While Central is a public institution, closed classrooms and offices are considered private spaces, meaning undocumented individuals can seek refuge in these areas if immigration authorities were to enter the campus.
Sean Chesterfield, Central’s Director of Safety & Security, gave his statement on the campus’s policies regarding immigration enforcement: “The college leadership is creating a plan to address the possibility of ICE visiting campus. Once this plan is finalized, our Public Information Officer will let our campus community know what the plan is and what steps will be taken.” He continued, “Campus Security staff are here to protect our students, staff, and resources. They are not here to enforce, or assist with the enforcement of, immigration laws.”
School resources will also be used to publish and distribute information annually about the rights students have, resources they can utilize, and the contact information of faculty involved in immigration-related matters.
Author
Angelo Harper is a student at Seattle Central College perusing his AA degree for Journalism. Born in Seattle and raised in Shoreline, He wrote for his high school newspaper for two years before graduating and on the side he likes to write rhymes and perform under the stage name “Lil Fax Machine” where he has collaborated with local artists from the Seattle area on several tracks and a few music videos.
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