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Yesterday during the teach-in on free speech and I.C.E. we learned that the Trump administration terminated the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVIS) records of six international students at UNC. We are sharing the contacts and resources below for both international students and scholar and allies. We cannot stress enough how important it is to be prepared in the event that I.C.E. comes to campus or more students have their SEVIS records or visas terminated. Please read this full email and share with your community. To learn more about the circumstances at UNC and what you should be aware of view our most recent Instagram post below.
Below is an infographic with a quick overview of steps you should be taking if you suspect you are at risk of detainment. We encourage all international students and scholars to follow these steps.
Contacts:
If you think you have seen I.C.E. your first step should be to report your sighting to the Siembra NC Hotline. Siembra will then send a trained representative to verify whether I.C.E. is present. You should follow the S.A.L.U.T.E. method below when reporting to be as helpful as possible.
PLEASE create a contact for Siembra’s hotline: 336-543-0353
Outside of potential sightings, if you or someone you know needs help or support, email: CHCommunityResponse@proton.me
Know Your Rights:
If you are confused or would like clarification on what your rights are, please thoroughly read this page from the ACLU.
The file below contains “know your rights” cards in English and Spanish, showing the difference between an administrative warrant and the REQUIRED judicial warrant.
Please send the email below to faculty members asking that they help disseminate know your rights information and DESIGNATE THEIR OFFICE SPACE AS PRIVATE in order to keep I.C.E. from freely entering:
Just this week, six UNC international students had their SEVIS records terminated by the Trump administration. In order to protect our community from ICE detainment/deportation, it is vital to ensure that everyone knows their constitutional rights. Regardless of citizenship status, we have the right to protect ourselves by limiting our engagement with law enforcement as much as possible. By doing this, we can delay ICE detentions enough for our vulnerable community members to assemble resources, find lawyers, and initiate legal action to prevent deportation.
UNC administration has showed no signs of protecting our students, so it's time for our community to step up! Here are two immediate actions that you can take to ensure student, staff, and faculty know their rights:
Ask #1: copy and paste the message below to send to all of your students, and encourage your colleagues to do the same. Knowing our rights is among the best tactics we have in protecting our Carolina community from ICE. Your position as a faculty member would allow you to disseminate this information broadly.
Additionally, the Fourth Amendment offers protection in workplaces from ICE when spaces are clearly designated as private. A private space means that ICE, or any government official, is only able to enter if they are let in or if they have a judicial warrant. You can read more about judicial warrants here.
Ask #2: place a sign on the door of your office designating it a private space and make students, faculty, and staff aware of this designation status. This can be a simple printed document saying "Private office" or "Authorized persons only beyond this point," and explaining to students, faculty, and staff what this designation means. Please let me know if you have any further questions about this. Unfortunately, classrooms are considered public spaces, even while you are using them to teach.
This information is not being shared to instill panic or fear, but to make sure that all of you are aware of your constitutional rights.
Friendly reminder that all of you, regardless of citizenship status, have constitutional rights:
DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR if an immigration agent is knocking on the door. Agents can force their way in, even if not invited in, once the door is opened.
DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent.
DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING without first speaking to a lawyer. You have the right to speak with a lawyer.
If you are outside of your home, ask the agent if you are free to leave and if they say yes, leave calmly.
Helpful phrases when speaking with ICE or other law enforcement (these can be used by citizens and non-citizens alike):
"I do not wish to speak with you, answer your questions, or sign or hand you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution."
"I do not give you permission to enter my home based on my 4th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution unless you have a warrant to enter, signed by a judge or magistrate with my name on it that you slide under the door. "
"I do not give you permission to search any of my belongings based on my 4th Amendment rights. I choose to exercise my constitutional rights."
To have this information easily accessible, I suggest you print out a red card for a small version and keep it on your person.
***If at any point you suspect that ICE is on campus, please contact Siembra NC by calling/texting at 336-543-0353. Do not spread unsubstantiated rumors of ICE without verification. Learn more about how to verify ICE vehicles and agents here.***"
If you designate your office as private, then you can tack this sentence on at the end:
"My office is now designated as private and is protected under the 4th Amendment against unreasonable searches and seizures. My office is available to you as a private space from [insert times when you are consistently in your office]."
Thank you in advance! If you would like to know more about what faculty can do to protect our community, please reach out! My personal email is [insert] and you can reach me via Signal at [insert phone number].
Thank you for reading and please take whatever steps you can to protect yourself and the at-risk members of our community.
