FAQ's

• No, College of the Redwoods cannot release any student information related to immigration status without a judicial warrant, subpoena or court order, unless authorized by the student or required by law (*AP 5040, AP 5017).

• The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits College of the Redwoods, which protects student data.

No. College of the Redwoods will:

• Not enter into agreements with law enforcement agencies or federal departments for the enforcement of federal immigration law

• Not honor immigration hold requests

• Not contact, detain, question or arrest individuals solely on the basis of declared or suspected immigration status

Humboldt County as a sanctuary county does not allow local law enforcement units to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As such, primary jurisdiction over federal immigration laws does not rest with campus police or any other state or local law enforcement agency.

No. Although College of the Redwoods is a public institution, there are areas on campus that have limited access, including classrooms, locked offices or areas marked as “Authorized Personnel” that cannot be accessed without official District permission.

No. Campus policies also pertain to international students. 

College of the Redwoods is committed to serving all students who can benefit from a post-secondary education, without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, immigration status, age, gender, language, socio-economic status, gender identity or expression, medical condition or disability (BP 3410). The College of the Redwoods Board of Trustees will continue to work at all levels of government to advocate for the rights of our diverse student population to obtain a quality education. 

Yes, nothing prevents you from locking your classroom or classroom if it is something that you normally do. Faculty may choose to consider putting their classroom locked door policy in their class syllabus, establishing it as a common practice not necessarily related to immigration enforcement. Even if classroom doors are locked, law enforcement can still enter with a valid judicial warrant. You do not have to open the door to private areas on campus. ICE authorities cannot come in without a warrant signed by a judge. Tell them to pass the warrant under the door before you open it. 

Note that ICE agents often present “immigration” warrants, which are administrative and not signed by a judge; these are not legally sufficient.

Contact the Office of the President immediately at (707)476-4170. Allow the Office of the President to authenticate the warrant.

Staff should not provide voluntary consent to the agents to enter non-public areas and should avoid answering any questions to protect the FERPA rights of students and staff. You can ask officers to wait in a public area while the Office of the President arrives or contacts back.

Actions such as physically blocking doors, locking doors only when immigration enforcement authorities attempt to enter, or pushing an immigration enforcement agent. These may be considered an obstruction. Always call security and follow the ICE information flyer. Never physically touch an immigration enforcement authority agent, as penalties are severe.

If you are not giving instructions to escape or hide from officers, you are not responsible for what the students do. If you verbally instruct students to do that, such actions may be interpreted as aiding and abetting or harboring a fugitive, which carry serious legal consequences. Staff should be aware that anyone who knowingly assists an individual in evading federal immigration authorities can be charged with a felony under federal law (8 USC § 1324) which prohibits "concealing or harboring" an individual who is in the United States illegally.

Based on the specific circumstances and consistent with College of the Redwoods collective bargaining agreements, College of the Redwoods will work with the employee and labor union (if the employee is represented) to maintain the employee’s job status; including employment and any potential disciplinary action, to the fullest extent possible while the employee is detained.