Immigration Support and Community Resources

We understand that Occidental College community members may be concerned about the possibility of immigration enforcement actions on campus or affecting Oxy students, faculty, and staff. 

The College affirms its commitment to maintaining equal access to campus for all Oxy community members, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status. The information and resources below can help Oxy community members navigate these difficult times. 

In response, the Immigration Support Working Group was established to provide support and enhance awareness of institutional protections and preparedness related to these policy changes. The group is focused on developing training, educational resources, and clear institutional protocols and policies to better support impacted community members.

 

  • If you become aware of an immigration officer’s actual or expected presence on campus, immediately notify Campus Safety (323-259-2599); Campus Safety will then notify the Designated Campus Officials and the Office of the General Counsel. 
  • If you are contacted or questioned by an immigration agent, you should immediately and respectfully refer them to Campus Safety who will contact the Designated Campus Official who will consult with the Office of the General Counsel for the purpose of verifying the legality and scope of any warrant, subpoena, or other request for information. NOTE: Only members of the Office of the General Counsel are authorized to respond to subpoenas on behalf of the College. (See Subpoena and Legal Document FAQs).
  • Do not physically or otherwise obstruct an immigration officer’s performance of their duties.
  • Do not intentionally conceal or harbor an individual in violation of federal immigration laws.
  • Do calmly request the agent's name and credentials and refer them to Campus Safety. 
  • Do not disclose personal information about students, faculty, or staff. Direct immigration enforcement personnel to Campus Safety.
  • Do not provide an immigration enforcement officer with access to a non-public space on campus. At Oxy, residences, classrooms, and other areas with restricted access are considered non-public, and immigration officers should not be granted access to such areas absent exigent circumstances or a valid warrant (as determined by the General Counsel). This does not apply to requests related to the operation of international student, staff, or faculty programs, employment verification efforts, or other non-enforcement activities.
  • If an immigration officer produces a warrant or government subpoena, do explain that the College is represented by College legal counsel and explain that the General Counsel must review the documentation. 

Travel Advisory for International Students

To avoid delays at ports of entry into the U.S., international students should observe the College’s traveling advisory and emails from the International Programs Office (IPO), and make sure to carry updated documentation on your person. If you encounter any difficulties entering the U.S., contact Campus Safety at (323) 259-2599, so that they can contact IPO.

All students are encouraged to update their emergency contact information in MyOxy by navigating to Tools – My Personal Info – Update Emergency Contacts.

Under California’s Workplace Know Your Rights Act (SB 294), Occidental College employees have the right to designate an emergency contact to be notified if they are arrested or detained while at the workplace or performing work duties. This includes situations involving immigration actions. This designation is different from your standard “medical” emergency contact. It will only be used for notifications regarding arrests or detentions as outlined by SB 294. Employees who wish to designate a contact for this purpose should log into My Oxy and follow the steps below to ensure the correct designation is used. 

Instructions for "My Oxy"

  1. Log in to My Oxy.
  2. Navigate to Employee Dashboard / Tablero del Empleado.
  3. Select My Profile and then click Emergency Contact pen icon
  4. Under “Emergency Contact” You may Add a New Contact
  5. CRITICAL STEP: In the "Relationship" dropdown menu, you MUST select the option labeled: "California emergency contact".
    • Note: If you do not select "California emergency contact," the person will be listed as a standard medical emergency contact only.
  6. Select “Add”

Students who are concerned about the potential disclosure of directory information (such as address, telephone number, and email address) are encouraged to update their preferences on MyOxy by navigating to My Gateway – FERPA Authorizations. Students may opt out of disclosure of directory information, at their discretion, except as required by F and J visa regulations.

Occidental College Protocols Regarding Potential Immigration Enforcement on Campus

Occidental complies with federal, state, and local laws regarding immigration and follows the Guidance and Model Policies for colleges and universities issued by the California Attorney General in December 2024.* State laws, including Section 66093.3 of the California Education Code, limit the degree to which local law enforcement agencies may assist with federal immigration enforcement. Consistent with California law and with the College’s values of inclusion and equity, Occidental adheres to the following protocols:

  • Campus Safety is committed to protecting the safety of all students, faculty, and staff regardless of immigration status. Campus Safety will not ask Oxy community members about their immigration status or investigate, detain, or provide personal information about individuals for purposes of immigration enforcement.
  • The College does not disclose students’ educational records except as permitted under FERPA or with a student’s express written consent (see complete FERPA Policy). Students and faculty receive annual notice of Occidental’s FERPA Policy and are required to complete training on FERPA privacy protections.
  • Students may elect not to provide immigration or citizenship status information to Occidental, and this will not impede a student’s admission or enrollment. Any information provided to the College during the application process will be protected consistent with FERPA and used only for legitimate educational interests (which do not include immigration enforcement). 
    More information about admission and financial aid.
  • The College will not maintain a list or registry of students linked with immigration status, except as required by F-1 and J-1 visa regulations. 

Designated Campus Officials for Immigration Rights and Actions

The College designates the Dean of Students and Chief Human Resources Officer as the points of contact (“Designated Campus Officials”) related to any immigration actions or inquiries on campus. IPO is the primary contact for F and J visa holders.

Dean of Students, Vivian Garay Santiago, for inquiries related to current non-international students. 

Chief Human Resources Officer, Mel Gamba, for inquiries related to current Occidental College employees. 

IPO - Primary Designated School Official/Responsible Officer, Marisa Grover Mofford, Designated School Official/Alternate Responsible Officer, Robin Craggs for inquiries involving international students. 

Know Your Constitutional Rights

No matter your immigration status, people living in this country have constitutional rights which apply at home, in public spaces and during interactions with immigration officials or law enforcement. These include:

  • You have the right to remain silent
  • You have the right to refuse to consent to searches
  • You have a right to speak with an attorney
  • You have a right to due process under the law
  • You are not required to explain your background, beliefs, place of birth, or immigration status. You are not required to help immigration enforcement officials build a case against you or your loved ones.

Immigration authorities may approach individuals in public places including sidewalks, public parking lots, bus stops, and other transportation hubs. If you are approached, you may ask “Am I being detained, or am I free to go?” If you are told you are free to go, walk calmly away.

If you are being detained, you have the right to remain silent. You may say:

  • “I choose to remain silent.”
  • “I want to speak with an attorney.”
  • “I do not consent to a search.”

  • You do not have to answer questions about where you were born, your immigration status, or how you entered the U.S.
  • You do not have to answer questions about or discuss your religious beliefs or practices
  • You do not need to provide any explanations or documents unless legally required.

  • Make Contact. If they approach back away slowly.
  • Run
  • Lie
  • Present false documents
  • Physically resist.

If you are approached at a protest, do not engage with the immigration enforcement officers. Keep a respectful distance between yourself and the officers. If approached, back away slowly.

Timely Information about Enforcement Actions on Campus

If the College has verified information about immigration enforcement activity on campus that would require immediate attention to and compliance with these protocols, the College will send timely reminders to the campus community, to help guide people through potential interactions with immigration officers. Such notices will highlight key information from these protocols and remind individuals of their rights and responsibilities, and they may be sent by email.

If a student is detained, they have the right to remain silent. The student may say:

  • “I choose to remain silent.”
  • “I want to speak with an attorney.”
  • “I do not consent to a search.”

  • Students do not have to answer questions about where they were born, their immigration status, or how they entered the U.S.
  • They do not have to answer questions about or discuss their religious beliefs or practices
  • They do not need to provide any explanations or documents unless legally required.
  • Upon receiving information that a student has been taken into custody for immigration enforcement purposes, the College will promptly notify that person’s emergency contact.
  • The College will provide utmost flexibility and support and make all reasonable efforts to assist with the student’s reenrollment and reacquisition of campus services. This may include assistance with retaining any eligibility for financial aid, fellowship stipends, funding for research or other educational projects, housing stipends or services, or other benefits the student has been awarded or received and permit the student to be reenrolled if and when the student is able to return to the college.

  • Stay calm
  • Remember that you have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about where you were born or your immigration status
  • Do not run, lie, or show false documents
  • Do not sign any documents without reading them carefully or speaking to a lawyer

  • Ask to speak with a lawyer
  • Do not sign anything you do not understand
  • Write down the ICE officer names and badge numbers if possible
  • Contact your family or emergency contact as soon as you are able 
  • Contact the Human Resource Department so that they can contact your emergency contact if you are unable to do so. Contact Human Resources at 323-259-2613

  • Get the family members Detainee Locator Number or A Number so that you may track your loved in ICE’s Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS) available at https://locator.ice.gov/
  • Make sure you have as much information about the detainee as possible including their full legal name, date of birth, A Number, country of birth
  • Contact an immigration attorney or trusted legal organization immediately
  • Do not rely on immigration enforcement officers for legal advice.

Naturalized citizens have full constitutional protections. Citizenship cannot be taken away without a formal court process. Denaturalization is limited to specific legal circumstances that involve fraud or misrepresentation. Denaturalization requires due process and the opportunity to be represented by legal counsel.

You are not required to carry proof of citizenship in daily life. If you feel it is necessary to carry such documents with you, carry copies of the original documents. Such documents include:

  • Certificate of naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship
  • US Passport
  • Copy of Form N-400 which is the naturalization application
  • Come of Form N-445 which is a notice of a naturalization oath ceremony
  • Government issues photo ID such as a driver’s license or state ID

Green card holders have legal protections but are subject to certain requirements.

Your rights as a Green Card Holder include:

  • Right to live and work permanently in the US
  • Right to due process in removal proceedings
  • Right to legal representation
  • Right to remain silent
  • Protection against unlawful searches

Your responsibilities as a Green Card Holder include:

  • Always carry your green card with you as required by law
  • Maintain your permanent resident status by not abandoning US residency
  • Report changes to USCIS within ten days of moving

If You are Green Card Holder who is Detained, you have a right to see an immigration judge. Contact an immigration attorney immediately. You may be eligible for relief from removal depending upon circumstances.]

Travel Considerations for Green Card Holders: Trips outside the US for longer than six months may raise questions regarding maintaining residency while extended absences (over one year) can result in the presumption of abandonment of status. You should consider applying for a re-entry permit you are planning on extended international travel.

Specific protections depend upon your via category. You still have the following rights:

  • Right to remain silent
  • Right to refuse consent to searches
  • Right to legal representation at your own expense
  • Right to contact your country’s consulate

Visa status can be jeopardized by:

  • Overstaying authorization period
  • Working without authorization
  • Violating Visa Conditions
  • Criminal convictions

Student Visas (F-1, M-1): You must maintain full time enrollment in school and a valid immigration status.

We understand that there is an intersection of need and fear that comes with a tense culture of anti-immigration protocols, racism, transphobia, and xenophobia. Survivors of harm face many barriers when accessing resources and deciding whether to report and even more so when one of their identities is under attack. You can make a confidential appointment with a Project SAFE Survivor Advocate to discuss safety planning by emailing survivoradvocate@oxy.edu or visit this list of Survivor-Centered Resources. 

Know Your Rights

The Intercultural Community Center hosts Know Your Rights workshops for students, faculty, and staff throughout the year. Please contact the Intercultural Community Center (vgonzalez2@oxy.edu) with questions and/or if you would like to connect with someone for support around these topics. We encourage Occidental community members to review this Know Your Rights bulletin from the ACLU and this Guide for Students and Families from the CA Office of the Attorney General.

Direct Legal Services

Please contact the Intercultural Community Center (vgonzalez2@oxy.edu) with questions about support for legal services.

External Resources

Community members may refer to this list of external organizations and resources, including those that provide legal immigration services.

*The Model Policies issued by the California Attorney General are hereby incorporated by reference into this Occidental College protocol regarding immigration enforcement on campus.

Last Updated: November 13, 2026

Contact Community & Equity

AGC Room 108
Phone: (323) 259-1393
vpce@oxy.edu