Resources for Educational Opportunity and Cultural Connection

What should you do if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) comes to speak with you or detain you?

1. DO NOT open the door. They may identify themselves as police or federal agents but you are not obligated to speak with them.
2. DO NOT RUN. This gives them the opportunity to detain you.
3. RECORD the conversation and ask for their badge numbers and names (write it down or record it in a video with audio).
4. ASK FOR A WARRANT signed by a judge. Ask them to slip it under the door. 
   • ​​​​​​​If they do not have a signed warrant, you do not need to speak with them.
   • If they have a warrant but it is not signed, you do not need to speak with them.
   • The only time you are obligated to let ICE in is if they have a warrant signed by a judge.
     • It must say “U.S. District Court” or "California State Court" at the top. If it does not, it is an administrative warrant and not a judicial warrant and you are not obligated to comply.
     • Take a photo of the document.
5. If they do not have a signed judicial warrant, tell them you do not wish to speak with them and ask them to leave. 
   • Do not continue to engage them. Ignore their knocks until they leave.
   • Email the photos, videos, or audio to yourself and to a friend or family member for records. If you have cloud storage, upload it to the cloud as well
6. Contact the Southern California ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) at https://www.aclusocal.org/ or by calling (213)-977-9500 and request legal assistance.

For Faculty and Staff: What should you do if ICE tries to enter the building?

Musicians Institute is a private college and is on private property. We are not legally obligated to allow any law enforcement, whether local, state, or federal, on campus without a warrant for arrest or search and seizure. If agents arrive and try to enter:

1. Security should stop them and ask for a warrant.
   1. The warrant should be from a State or Federal Court (NOT the Department of Homeland Security)
   2. It should be signed by a judge
      • Look up the judge to make sure they are a real judge
   3. If they have a legitimate warrant, security should check to see if they have entered campus or if they are in class.
      • If they are not on campus, they should not be permitted on campus.
      • If they are on campus, a member of security should go retrieve the student from class and bring them down to meet them.
      • If they are a staff member, they should be referred to the HR Department.
   4. If they do not have a legitimate warrant, information for contacting Melinda Parker in the International Office and/or the Registrar's Office should be provided so they can get proof of legal status.

The student's personal information should not be provided under any circumstances. We are only obligated to provide them with the proper I-9 or I-20 to prove proper entry in the United States. 

What to Prepare Ahead of Time

​​​​​​Scan and make 3 photocopies of the following:

• Your passport with all Visa stamps
• Your I-20
• Your birth certificate
• Your Driver's License (if you have it) and/or a piece of mail with your current address on it (e.g. an electric bill, lease agreement, etc)

What to do with the documents:

• Keep scans on cloud storage (like GoogleDrive or Microsoft Onedrive)
• Keep the originals in a safe at home
• Keep one copy on you at all times
• Keep a copy in your car
• Give a copy and/or digital copies to a trusted friend or family member

Doing this ensures that you will have access to your documents in case you get detained. Additionally, keep the following numbers on hand:

• Melinda Parker (Student Services Coordinator, DSO): (323) 860-1167
• ACLU of Southern California Phone Line: (213)-977-9500
• Family or Friends in the area
• At least one friend who is a citizen in the United States