FOR DISCUSSION: Response to MEChA Demands

July 2017

1. Knox College will not allow government agencies such as Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) to search the campus unless a criminal warrant is
present.
If these agencies enter campus grounds, the college will inform and coordinate with the
campus community in a timely manner, especially students who may be targeted.

Response
It is Knox Colleges general policy that a federal agent seeking to detain a student, staff
member, or other individual on school property for violating U.S. immigration law must
present a valid criminal warrant to do so. This requirement also applies if a federal agent
wants to search the Knox College campus for a person of interest suspected of violating
U.S. immigration laws. Exceptions to this policy will be approved by only the highest
levels of leadership at Knox College.

Furthermore, officers in the Department of Campus Safety will not cooperate with
government or law enforcement agencies making general or broad requests for
information concerning students, including students at risk of deportation, unless
supported by an appropriate warrant, subpoena, or related document. Requests from
agencies made by email, telephone, or any other means will be similarly treated. All
officers will receive training in determining which requests for information from law
enforcement agencies should be honored.

In addition, officers presented with an in-person request for information or assistance on

an immigration-related matter by a government or law enforcement agency will
immediately notify the Director of Campus Safety or their designee, who will assess the
request in cooperation with the Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services
and any other senior administrative personnel deemed necessary before making a
determination on how to respond to the request, including the Vice President for Student
Development for any situation involving students.

If it is determined that the agencies are in possession of a valid criminal arrest or search
warrant, campus safety officers will only assist in locating only the persons, buildings, or
residences specified in the warrant or court order, unless otherwise instructed by the
Director. This policy shall not apply to requests wherein a written waiver of release from
the student or students in question has been submitted with the request.

If a representative from one of these agencies does enter campus grounds for an
immigration-related matter, college personnel will notify the student they are seeking, as
well as any other students who may be at risk (i.e., undocumented students) via
phone/text message and email. Staff in the Center for Intercultural Life will also be
notified so they provide support to students.

2. Knox College will create an official safety plan, laying out what steps will be taken if ICE
comes onto campus. It will be made accessible on the website and through email.
 Response
Please see above for Knoxs response when an ICE agent presents a valid criminal
arrest or search warrant. Knox employees will accompany any ICE/law enforcement
agents to the maximum extent possible so as to observe and document whether the
scope of their activity is limited to the actions that the warrant authorizes.

3. Knox College will ensure, through formal training, that campus safety officers are
knowledgeable about policies on the federal, state, local, and college level regarding
immigration issues, such as sensitive location policies.
a. We would like to see upheld the statement that, Campus Safety officers are here
to protect our students and the College community, and do no contact or
question an individual solely on the basis of suspected immigration status or to
discover their immigration status (Amott Email 2017).

Response
All officers and staff involved in making these decisions will receive training in
determining which requests for information from law enforcement agencies should be
honored. Training will include Knox protocols as well as information on the larger
national context as it relates to undocumented students and any executive orders related
to immigration. The Director of Campus Safety, Vice President for Finance and
Administration, and Vice President for Student Development will also be required to
attend at least one Know Your Rights Workshop per academic year.

4. In the case that DACA is repealed, Knox College will provide the necessary financial
support to DACA students in compensation, be it through employments, stipends,
scholarships, etc.

Response
In the event that DACA were to be repealed or phased out, the College will fully replace
any Campus Employment awards made to DACA-eligible recipients with an equivalent
amount of additional Knox Grant.

5. Knox College will provide free housing during campus breaks for all students at risk of
deportation. The free housing policy will be expanded whenever necessary to include
students affected by future anti-immigration policies, such as travel bans.

Response
The College currently works individually with students to ensure that no student is left
without housing during break periods. This has included providing housing at a reduced
cost or at no cost. We will continue this practice on an as-needed basis so that students
who are at risk for deportation by virtue of their undocumented status have access to the
housing they need. Additionally, we will make sure that staff who work most closely with
undocumented and international students are aware of this practice.

6. Knox College will provide the following resources to students:

a. A set advisor employed specifically for students affected by immigration policies.

 Response
There are three staff members whose roles include supporting students affected by
immigration policy: Josh Ferchau, Director of International Student Services and
Admission and Rebecca Eckart, Assistant Director of International Student Services
provide information to and advise students on F-1 visas. Tianna Cervantez, Director of
the Center for Intercultural Life, is the designated advisor for undocumented students. All
three of these individuals have reaffirmed their commitment to prioritizing the needs of
students affected by existing and potential changes in policy. Should one of these
individuals leave the college and need to be replaced, the responsibility for supporting
students affected by immigration policy will be included in future job descriptions.
Additionally, the Center for Intercultural Life will maintain list of faculty and staff who are
willing to provide support to undocumented students if needed.

b. Expanded training for counselors in counseling services to account for issues

about immigration.

Response
Along with all staff in the Division of Student Development, Counseling Services staff
have undergone training regarding the needs of undocumented and international
students, and will continue to do so. If there are specific topic can you believe merit
additional training, please let us know. Additionally, Resident Assistants and Orientation
Leaders will receive awareness and sensitivity training regarding immigration-related
issues during their annual training.

c. Free legal aid for students affected by immigration policies, especially in the case
of a students detainment

Response
The College has provided a list of alumni who work as immigration attorneys and who
are willing to consult with students at no cost. A link to request this list will be included on
the Center for Intercultural Life website. If any student is having difficulty reaching one of
these attorneys, please let us know.

d. An annual Know Your Rights workshop, led by lawyers, hosted and paid for by
the college.

Response
The College is willing to repeat the Know Your Rights workshop offered in the Winter
2017 term--at which an immigration attorney shared timely information regarding recent
executive orders and related policy--on an annual basis, or more often if needed.

7. Knox College will inform its students families about the resources available for their
dependents, through mail, email, and phone calls.

Response
Providing needed information to families is critical to students success. We currently do
this through parent orientation sessions, extensive summer communications for parents
 of incoming students, parents information on our website, and social media initiatives.
The role of the Director of the Center for Intercultural Life as the primary resource for
undocumented students will be made explicit during parent orientation/admitted student
sessions.

8. Knox College will create and maintain a website which dictates the schools policies
regarding the current White House administrations immigration legislation.
a. The website will serve as a resource for all students, especially prospective
students.
b. The website will include an explanation and comparison of a Criminal Warrant
and Administrative Warrant and other such basic information about immigrants
and undocumented individuals constitutional rights.
c. The website will include important information such as what the sensitive
locations policy is.

Response
The Center for Intercultural Life is currently working with the Office of Communications
and students to develop a comprehensive website that provides information and
resources for undocumented students. The goal of this project is to centralize the
information you referenced as important to undocumented students so it can be easily
accessed in one location. The website will be completed by Fall 2017 New Student
Orientation.

9. Knox College will inform students about their rights under FERPA through a
campus-wide email every term. This notice should be made easily accessible both on
the Knox College website as well as the My Knox page.
a. Abiding by FERPA, Knox College will not share any student information with
government unless required by law.

Response
We are working with Information Technology so that all students must review information
regarding FERPA prior to accessing their Knox account at the beginning of each
academic year. FERPA information is currently available in both the online Student
Handbook and Faculty Handbook. We will add it to the Student Resources link on
MyKnox, as well, and sent it out via email at the beginning of each term.

10. Knox College will promptly communicate through email any changes in school policy or
federal policy which may have significant effect on its immigrant and international
student body.

Response
We are committed to such prompt notifications and will communicate them to the
campus community via email.

11. The President of the college will make a greater effort to dialogue with the campus
community, establishing a transparent and sincere relationship between students and
the Knox administration.
 a. In this effort, the college will hold at least one open forum per term regarding
relevant issues affecting the current immigrant/international student body. The
President of Knox, the Dean of Students, the Director of the Center for
Intercultural Life, the Vice President of Student Development, and Associate
Director of International Student services should be present.

Response
We are happy to hold (and publicize) open forums regarding immigration issues--or other
issues important to the student body--once per term or as needed, with appropriate
administrators in attendance. We are also happy to facilitate students ability to submit
questions in advance. We look forward to discussing specific topics for these forums with
MEChA de Knox and other interested students.

12. Knox College will continue to support legislation aimed at protecting undocumented and
international students at Knox.
a. We would like to see upheld the Knox commitment that, We continue our
long-standing practice of admitting students without regard to national origin or
their immigration status. Once admitted, the College does everything we can to
ensure that all students have access to the educational opportunities they
deserve through our financial aid and other policies (Amott Email, 2017).

Response
These are are practices to which the College remains steadfastly committed. We
welcome dialogue with students on ways to take action and communicate our
commitments on an ongoing basis.