Policies and Procedures

Triton College does not inquire about any student’s immigration status, nor does Triton College or the Triton College Police Department enforce federal immigration laws. We do not work with agencies engaging in civil immigration enforcement, unless we are legally obligated to do so after being presented with a criminal warrant signed by a judge.

1.  Purpose

This procedure establishes the institutional process for reviewing and authorizing requests by law enforcement agents to enter Triton College property and for identifying, documenting and responding to immigration enforcement activity occurring or having occurred on Triton’s campus. All terms shall have the meanings provided in 110 ILCS 167/18.

This procedure applies to all Triton College property.

2.  Designated Authorized Contact

• The Vice President of Business Services Sean Sullivan shall serve as the primary Designated Authorized Person/Office for receiving and reviewing law enforcement requests to enter campus.
• In the absence of the primary designee, the Associate Vice President of Business Operations shall be the alternate Designated Authorized Person.
• The Designated Authorized Person/Office may consult the College Attorney at any time during the review process.

Contact: Vice President of Business Services (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3240

3.  Procedures for Reviewing and Authorizing Requests to Enter Campus

Initial Contact and Verification 

• Any school student or employee who is approached by an immigration law enforcement agent or witnesses an immigration law enforcement agent on campus shall refer the agent to the Vice President of Business Services Sean Sullivan and shall refrain from granting access until authorization has been provided.
• The Vice President of Business Services shall take the necessary steps to verify the identity, agency and purpose of the requesting agent and request and obtain copies of any warrants, court order, subpoena or other documentation supporting the request. Note: Administrative warrants and judicial warrants are not the same. Colleges are not required to comply with administrative warrants in the same way as judicial warrants or court orders. 
• All interactions with law enforcement shall be documented.

Legal Review

The Vice President of Business Services shall review all documentation provided for the following information:

• Validity and completeness;
• Proper signature by a judicial officer, if applicable;
• Scope, including persons or areas to be accessed;
• Compliance with federal and state law and school policy.

The Vice President of Business Services shall consult with the College Attorney as necessary and appropriate to determine whether access shall be granted, denied or require clarification.

Authorization or Denial

• Access may only be granted if the request is legally valid, the documentation authorizes entry and the scope of entry is consistent with the law and this procedure. To the extent permitted by law, the Vice President of Business Services shall notify the affected individual using the information maintained by the College.
• If access is denied or limited, the Vice President of Business Services shall inform the law enforcement agent of the reason and maintain all documentation.
• Triton College shall not voluntarily or without direct consent disclose information regarding immigration status.

Additional Procedures for Immigration Specific Matters

The following specific steps shall be taken in the event of an immigration enforcement action at Triton College. For this procedure, an immigration enforcement activity includes arrests or detentions carried out for civil immigration enforcement purposes by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection or any other individual or entity with authority to arrest or detain individuals for such purposes.

In the event immigration enforcement actions are confirmed and the Triton College Police Department determines there is a potential to affect campus safety or operations, the Police Chief shall notify, at a minimum, the College President and Vice Presidents and all members of the emergency management team. The notification provided shall only include information necessary for the continued safe operation of the campus. No personally identifiable information shall be disclosed, except as permitted by law.

4.  Procedures for Documenting Interactions

All interactions with law enforcement agents on campus, including immigration enforcement actions, shall be documented by the Vice President of Business Services. Documentation shall include, at minimum, the following:

• Date, time and location of interaction.
• Name(s), agency, badge number(s) and contact information of the agent(s).
• Copies of all documents presented and the final decision regarding campus access.
• For immigration related matters, any notifications made and any additional documents generated related to requests for consent shall be maintained.