Know Your Rights

General Guidelines

For more details visit: smc.edu/immigrationresponse  

• Remain calm. Do not jump to conclusions.
• Do not engage in casual conversation with federal officers, provide false information, or block their access.
• Follow guidelines + have Campus Counsel’s letter ready to hand over.

[See “Letter re. Federal Process” online at smc.edu/immigrationresponse]. It outlines the college’s protocol & minimizes your involvement.

• Remember we are not allowed to disclose information about students without their written consent—even to federal authorities. Stick to the protocol shown here to ensure student and employee rights are being protected—and leave the rest to Campus Counsel & the Santa Monica College Police Department (SMCPD).

If Approached by an ICE Officer on Campus, Stay Calm &...

• As with any other visitor, ask how you can help. This will provide context.
• If the person tells you they are enforcing federal law, hand them the letter from Campus Counsel. Tell them it is not within your job duties to respond & you will need to contact appropriate College officials.

If the officer tells you not to leave, ask if you are being detained:

• If they say yes, do not leave. Since you are being detained, you have the right to exercise your Fifth Amendment right to say nothing further.
• If you see a co-worker being detained, send an email to ice-notification@smc.edu and call SMCPD at 310-434-4300 (or ext. 4300 from an on-campus phone)

Don’t Forget! Take notes ASAP, then complete the “Report of Non-SMC Law Enforcement Contact” form.

Classified Employees

If Allowed to Leave—Find a Manager and:

• Email ice-notification@smc.edu with the following one-sentence message: “Federal officers from [insert if known] are in [Insert Building], [Insert Room Number]”.
• Call SMCPD at 310-434-4300 (or ext. 4300 from an on-campus phone) and provide the same information.
• Brief your supervisor and do not return to your work area until federal officers have left.

Faculty

For faculty in the classroom, if Allowed to Leave, Step Outside Your Classroom and:

• Email ice-notification@smc.edu with the following one-sentence message: “Federal officers from [insert if known] are in [Insert Building], [Insert Room Number]”.
• Call SMCPD at 310-434-4300 (ext. 4300 from an on-campus phone) & provide the same information.
• Wait for Campus Police to arrive. Brief them.
• Follow the guidance of Campus Police & Campus Counsel.

For faculty not in the classroom, follow the above steps, but proceed to the nearest administrator’s office

Managers

If the employee in your area has called SMCPD at 310-434-4300 (ext. 4300 from an on-campus phone) and briefed you, do the following:

• Wait for SMCPD to arrive
• Call Campus Counsel via cell or 310-434-4200

 For more information, please access the Immigration Response: 250-ImmigrationResponse-04.pdf

Upcoming Presentations

Everyone in the United States, no matter their immigration status, is granted certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. The  Immigrant Legal Resource Center’s (ILRC) red cards provide examples of how individuals can assert these rights. 

For more information, please access the Red Cards: Red Cards / Tarjetas Rojas | Immigrant Legal Resource Center | ILRC

Everyone in the U.S. is guaranteed certain rights under the U.S. Constitution, no matter their immigration status. You may not be able to control if/or when you come into contact with immigration or law enforcement, which is why it’s important to understand and practice how to handle these situations. Being familiar with your fundamental rights and how to use them can help you stand up for yourself and respond effectively if you encounter police or immigration authorities.

For more information, please access the Know Your Rights Library: Know Your Rights - Informed Immigrant

All families should have a Family Preparedness Plan in place for emergencies. For immigrant families, it’s essential to prepare in advance for potential immigration-related situations. This Resource Toolkit offers practical information on a variety of topics, including available childcare options if a parent becomes unavailable, where to locate trusted immigration services in your area, and how to confidently assert your constitutional rights when approached by immigration officers.

The toolkit is organized into sections that guide on preparedness planning for all families, regardless of immigration status, and includes additional support specifically for undocumented and mixed-status households.

For more information, please access the Step-by-Step Family Preparedness Plan: Step-by-Step Family Preparedness Plan | Immigrant Legal Resource Center | ILRC

An empowerment campaign to prepare for and safely defend our rights during encounters with Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE).

For more information, please access the We Have Rights Campaign: We Have Rights 

Rapid response networks in California respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detentions and raids in our communities. Many counties have a local rapid response hotline available 24/7. 

For more information, please access the California Rapid Response Networks: Defend Immigrant Communities - California Immigrant Policy Center

If you or a family member has been detained or is facing deportation, you may be feeling frightened or overwhelmed. It is important to know that you are not alone and that resources are available to support you. The resources in this section provide an overview of what to expect if someone is detained or is experiencing a potential deportation, how to locate a loved one if they have been picked up or transferred to ICE, and more.

Please note that this information is general guidance; each case is unique, and it is strongly recommended that you work with a lawyer as soon as possible under all of these circumstances to fully assess all legal options.

For more information, please access the Help for People in Detention or Facing Deportation: Help for People in Detention or Facing Deportation - Informed Immigrant