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Responding to LEO & Others' Requests for Library User Information

Submission Date
Question

I’d like to ask this as generally as I can so that the answers are as applicable as possible, but I’m writing from a small college library in NY, so I’d like to get a sense for myself and my staff about what our rights, obligations and protections for students and patrons are as Librarians in the event of a “visit” or raid by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

We haven’t received guidance from our institution and we’re a small place, but want to be prepared in case our students or staff are targeted.

What are we required to do? What is ICE currently allowed to do on a college campus or in a library? How can we protect our students from these actions by ICE?

I don’t know and wouldn’t ask about a student’s immigration status, but I know for instance that we have graduate assistants and Faculty who are here on visas and who are non-white.