Principles in Support of Undocumented Members of the UC Community

The University’s reaffirmed Statement of Principles in Support of Undocumented Members of the UC Community is available on the University of California website. These principles are implemented through policies and procedures that  apply to all UC campuses and medical facilities. The Principles include: 

  • Admission: The University of California welcomes and supports students without regard to their immigration status… undocumented applicants with or without DACA status will be considered for admission on the same basis as any U.S. citizen or other applicant.
  • Success: The University is committed to creating an environment in which all admitted students can successfully matriculate and graduate.
  • Privacy: Federal law protects student privacy rights, and the California Constitution and statutes provide broad privacy protection to all members of the UC community. University policy provides additional privacy protections. 
  • Confidentiality: We will not release immigration status or related information in confidential student records, without permission from a student to federal agencies or other parties without a judicial warrant, a subpoena, a court order or as otherwise required by law.
  • Campus Law Enforcement: No UC campus police department will join those state and local law enforcement agencies that have entered into an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or undertake other joint efforts with federal, state or local law enforcement agencies, to investigate, detain or arrest individuals for violation of federal immigration law.

For Students

We’re Here to Support You!

Our campus at large and Student Affairs are steadfast in their support of undocumented students, including your safety and success. There are numerous resources ready to help you. Some key resources include: 

  • Undocumented Student Services – provides various programs, services, and resources designed for students from undocumented, mixed status, and refugee backgrounds.
  • Dean of Students Office – the Student and Parent Liaison provides assistance to students and their families in emergencies or in times of crisis (e.g., deportation of a student or a family member, medical issue, accident, death or illness of a close family member).
  • Basic Needs – centralized source of information regarding healthy and sustainable food options at UCSB and in the local community.
  • Student Health - Social Work Services – provides confidential services focused on enhancing and supporting student health and wellness.
  • UC Immigrant Legal Service Center – provides free immigration legal services to currently enrolled students and their immediate family members.

Keep Your Contact Information Up-to-Date!

We strongly encourage all students to keep your Emergency Contact information current in GOLD. This allows the campus to contact your loved ones in the event of an emergency.

  • If the campus learns that a student has been taken into custody due to an immigration enforcement action, and the student's identity is known, we will attempt to contact the emergency contact listed in GOLD.
  • To update your information: Log in to GOLD, go to About Me, then My Addresses, and click Update Emergency Address.
  • Undocumented students are encouraged to inform the person they designate as their emergency contact and provide them with contact information for friends, family, and legal resources that should be contacted in an emergency.

Students can also schedule an appointment with our UC Immigrant Legal Services Center Staff Attorney to discuss Know Your Rights and Family Preparedness Planning information.  

Know Your Rights

The University maintains a printable Know Your Rights card to advise individuals if approached by immigration enforcement agents. 

  • All members of the University community concerned about immigration enforcement are encouraged to review, print, and carry a copy of this card. 
  • Any student, staff, or faculty member can contact the UC Immigrant Legal Services Center for direct support or referrals in case of immigration enforcement actions. For more information, please visit this FAQ.

For Faculty & Staff

Protecting Undocumented Students' Privacy

Consistent with University policy and the law, all University staff – including but not limited to faculty, staff, and student staff – must refrain from disclosing personal information about other students, faculty, and staff except: 

  1. with the consent of the person identified, or if the person is under 18 years of age, with the consent of the parent or guardian of the person identified; 
  2. as may legally be disclosed under state and federal privacy laws; 
  3. for the programmatic purpose for which the information was obtained; 
  4. as part of a directory that does not include residence addresses or individual persons’ course schedules and that the person has not elected to opt out of; or 
  5. in response to a judicial warrant, court order, or subpoena.

Note: Additional information about student records privacy is available from the Office of the Registrar. Note that information such as physical address and class schedule is considered confidential by default. Students can further restrict their record privacy by filing a “Request to Restrict / Release Student Data with the Registrar – visit the website linked above and review the “Keep their records private” section. 

Encountering an Immigration Officer on Campus – What to Do 

If you an become aware that an immigration officer is expected to enter, will enter, or has entered the campus to execute a federal immigration order a federal immigration officer, take the following steps immediately:

  1. Request Identification: Ask the officer for their documentation of their name, identification number, agency affiliation, and business card.
  2. Request Warrant: Ask for a copy of any warrant they may have.
  3. Inform Officer: Inform the officer that you are not obstructing their process but must contact the Chancellor’s designee, which is the campus' legal counsel, to verify the documents and provide instructions.
  4. Contact Campus Counsel: Call Campus Counsel at (510) 987-9720.
  5. Inform Student Affairs: Inform the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at (805) 893-3651 or vcsaoffice@sa.ucsb.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions for University Employees

The University maintains a bank of Frequently Asked Questions for University Employees About Possible Federal Immigration Enforcement Actions on University Property. 

Las mismas Preguntas frecuentes para empleados universitarios sobre posibles acciones de control de inmigración federales en propiedades universitarias están disponible en Español. 

See also California Workplace - Know Your Rights for information about notice of immigration inspections, your protections against unfair immigration practices, and more.

Keep Your Information Up-to-Date

The University allows you to provide an emergency contact and to indicate if you want the emergency contact to be notified if you are arrested or detained at work. If you are arrested or detained at work and your employer has knowledge of it, they will notify your designated emergency contact if you choose that option.

To designate an emergency contact as a University of California, please:

  1. Log in to UC Path 
  2. Select the “Personal Information” tab on the top left 
  3. Click on “Emergency Contacts”
  4. Click on the + sign to add a new emergency contact and choose “Emerg/Detention/Arrest Contact” from the Relationship drop down box
  5. Fill in your emergency contact's information and click Save

General Information

Non-Enforcement Customs and Immigration Activity on Campus

Please keep in mind that there are instances when immigration and customs enforcement officers are present on campus for routine compliance checks, such as to verify the enrollment of international students and scholars or conduct employment authorization audits. 

If you have concerns and are uncertain about the nature of the officer's presence, you are encouraged to follow the procedure outlined in the "Encountering an Immigration Officer on Campus" section above.

Frequently Asked Question: Can UC prevent federal immigration enforcement officers from coming on campus or other University property?

Generally, no. UC is a public university and a large portion of UC property is open to the general public. UC does not have authority to prohibit federal immigration enforcement officers from coming on campus or entering health facilities to enforce federal law. The areas on campus that are open to the general public are also open to federal immigration enforcement officers.

However, public access is limited in certain areas of UC campuses and property because of privacy concerns, operational needs or safety considerations. Campus buildings and spaces in which access is physically restricted, such as by key card, locked doors or monitored entryways, including University housing and clinical areas, fall into this category. Limited access spaces also include some that may normally be left unlocked during the workday, including, for example, administrative or faculty offices, classrooms while classes are in session, hospital inpatient rooms, clinic exam rooms, locker rooms, research laboratories, kitchens and food preparation areas, maintenance areas, storage facilities and physical plant operations. (See Employee FAQs for complete response and additional information.) 

 

Notification of the Presence of Immigration Enforcement on Campus

The campus will notify all students, faculty, staff, and other campus community members who work on campus when the presence of immigration enforcement is confirmed on campus, to the fullest extent consistent with state and federal law. Notification will be by email (except in case of emergency) and will include the date and time the immigration enforcement was confirmed, the location of the confirmed immigration enforcement, and links to resources.