The Access to Higher Education for Every Student Act, passed by the California legislature in October 2017, seeks to ensure that California's institutions of higher education foster campus communities that are safe, welcoming for all, and provide access to services and support for all students, faculty, and staff, regardless of their immigration status. These are principles that Caltech fully endorses.
This legislation imposes a number of requirements on Caltech, including advising faculty, staff and students of their rights and obligations under the new law. Consistent with these requirements we are sending out the first of a quarterly email to all faculty, students, postdoctoral scholars and staff providing the community with important information about rights under state and federal immigration laws and how to respond to a federal immigration action or order.
Caltech is committed to protecting all members of our community. Caltech Security has no responsibility for immigration enforcement and will not inquire about immigration status in the normal course of its duties or participate in immigration enforcement activities unless legally required to do so.
Caltech keeps student and personnel records private and will not share such information with immigration officials unless legally required to do so. Any Caltech office that receives a request for information from an immigration enforcement agency should route that request to our Office of General Counsel.
Caltech has designated the Director of International Offices, Ilana Smith, to serve as a resource to Caltech community members who have concerns about their immigration status. She is available to provide assistance to DACA recipients and other faculty, students, postdoctoral scholars and staff who may be subject to a federal immigration order or inquiry. The International Offices maintains a list of Immigration Attorneys who are qualified to provide legal immigration representation to members of the Caltech community who have concerns regarding their immigration status. Caltech also offers counseling and support through the Caltech Student Counseling Services, the Staff and Faculty Consultation Center and the Caltech Center for Inclusion & Diversity.
Below is additional information that all Caltech faculty, students, postdoctoral scholars and staff should be aware of:
Refrain. Do not release or disclose personal information concerning faculty, students, postdoctoral scholars or staff. If you receive a request for such information contact the Office of the General Counsel.
Notify. Immediately notify the Office of the General Counsel upon becoming aware that an immigration officer will or has entered campus. If the officer declares that exigent circumstances exist and demands immediate access to the campus, Caltech personnel should not refuse the officer's orders and immediately contact the Office of the General Counsel. If you are contacted by an immigration officer executing a federal immigration order refer them to the Office of the General Counsel to verify the legality of the warrant, court order, or subpoena.
Refer. Refer any entity executing a federal immigration order to the Office of the General Counsel for validation of the warrant, court order, or subpoena.
Review. Find additional information regarding your rights under state and federal immigration laws from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) related to your rights at work, at home, and in public. The American Civil Liberties Assoication has published a document explaing your rights under DACA.