2026 Immigration Enforcement

We have no confirmed reports of ICE agents visiting any of the public spaces on campus.

Stay calm. If others are present, encourage them to remain calm as well.

Politely state: “I cannot give you permission to enter or provide information. I am obligated to contact University administration before you proceed.” 

Immediately contact the Department of Public Safety at (651) 690-8888 or via the LiveSafe app and share your location. DPS will come to support you. 

Notify one or more members of University Administration (leave a voicemail if necessary):

• Legal Officer: Todd Schnell, 612-443-1914, twschnell325@stkate.edu;
• Human Resources: Latisha Dawson, 612-214-3012 ledawson536@stkate.edu;
• Student Affairs, Equity and Belonging: Jackie Font-Guzmán, 651-690-6643 jnfontguzman597@stkate.edu; or

Protect Privacy

• While waiting for University administration to arrive, you are not obligated to provide information to the ICE officer about yourself, or answer questions from the ICE officer.
• Do not answer questions or provide personally identifiable information about yourself or anyone else. Personally identifiable information includes name, contact information, class lists, student schedules, etc.
• Comply with FERPA and HIPAA regulations by not disclosing private information to entities from outside the campus.

University administration will take responsibility for addressing the specific circumstances once on-site.

If an ICE officer or any other officer proceeds to enter limited access or non-public areas without waiting for a member of the administration to arrive:

• Calmly inform them that you are not obstructing their process, but that you are not authorized to grant access and will need to contact Legal Counsel for assistance.
• You should not attempt to physically block or interfere with their actions, but do record your notes of the interaction with the officer and their actions.

Although St. Catherine University is a private institution, areas of campus that are open to the general public are not restricted or closed to law enforcement, including ICE. It is therefore important to distinguish between publicly accessible spaces and areas that are designated as restricted or require authorized access.

• Public access: these are areas open to the general public where entry is not restricted. For example, the quad, parking lots, public access buildings such as The O'Shaughnessy. ICE/law enforcement agents may enter public areas without permission or judicial warrant.
• Restricted access: these are buildings that require a key card to enter or have locked doors. For example, residence halls, administrative and academic buildings, the CdC, and the library. ICE/law enforcement agents are are quired to have a valid judicial warrant, signed by a judicial officer, to enter these spaces. Access must be granted within the scope of the warrant.

Yes.

A residence hall room is considered a limited/restricted access area and cannot be legally accessed by ICE without a valid criminal warrant OR the voluntary consent of the occupant or a St. Kate's official (typically the Dean of Students, Director of Campus Life, or Director of Public Safety).

(Answer adapted from NEIU.)

Students: if you need to miss class or participate remotely due to safety concerns, promptly communicate with your instructors to make arrangements. You are responsible for keeping up with coursework and assignments as determined by your faculty. Please also be advised that first-week attendance (either in-person or remote) is essential to ensure you remain eligible for your financial aid award.

Faculty: Be as flexible as reasonably possible regarding student attendance and participation; promptly and clearly communicate any changes or accommodations to your students and department chairs. If you have concerns or need support, reach out to your dean or program director.

Staff: If you have concerns about coming to campus, discuss your situation with your supervisor to determine the best course of action. Essential on-campus roles will be addressed individually, and support will be provided as needed.

As with other extenuating circumstances, faculty have been encouraged to bel flexible with attendance and assignments. Faculty have the latitude to determine the degree of flexibility that is reasonable in their course and program.

For students, you may take a leave of absence for a family obligation, including supporting family members who have been impacted by an ICE detention or other immigration related concerns. Students wishing to take a leave of absence for this reason can contact Maddie Jarmola at mjarmola873@stkate.edu to have their leave of absence processed.

Many of our students leave campus for internships, practicums, clinical hours, community-engaged learning, and more. The best course of action in any place is to be prepared:

• Request and review the Emergency Response Plan for the site. This document should be available upon request. 
• Discuss the response plan with your site contact. 
• Make sure you understand your role if the plan is activated while you are onsite.
• Always follow your site’s protocol regarding threats to safety and emergency response.

As an institution, we do not participate in external political actions or strikes. We respect the individual rights of students and employees to participate in civic engagement.

No. An arrest alone does not automatically result in employment action. The University does not assume wrongdoing based solely on an arrest.

Yes. The University respects employees’ rights to engage in lawful, off-duty civic activities, including peaceful protest and legal observation.

Each situation is assessed individually. A review may be necessary if circumstances related to an arrest affect:

• Workplace safety
• The employee’s ability to perform essential job duties
• Legal restrictions (e.g., court orders, bail conditions)
• Compliance with University policy or external regulations
• Role-specific requirements (e.g., licensure, work with minors, fiduciary duties)

If someone is unable to work due to detention or related legal proceedings, the University will review applicable leave policies and available options to determine what accommodations or leave processes may apply.

Not necessarily. An arrest is not a finding of guilt. Employment decisions are not based on assumptions and are evaluated based on facts, policy, and job-related considerations.

Employees are encouraged to contact Human Resources confidentially to discuss their individual situation and understand available options