On Jan. 28 WCU staff and faculty received an email informing them how to respond to federal immigration officials if an interaction occurs. The email gave guidelines on how to respond in various situations including an immigration official visiting campus, an official making a written or phone request, or if personal information about a student experiencing a health or safety issue is requested.
Faculty and staff were also sent an immigration information card which included a script and instructions in the event a federal immigration official visits a department or office. In the email, faculty and staff are instructed to contact WCU Police Department’s non-emergency line and ask the official to wait in a public area. While waiting for campus police to arrive, they are to contact the Office of Legal Counsel and Institutional Integrity for a university attorney.
Immigration information card emailed to WCU faculty and staff. Courtesy of Aaron Hoyle-Rivera.
Immigration information card emailed to WCU faculty and staff. Courtesy of Aaron Hoyle-Rivera.Included with the script and instructions, the information card instructs faculty and staff on what to do if an official makes a request written or over the phone. It explains what are and are not deemed public areas. Although the information on the card matches the original email, the email goes into more depth but does not provide details on public spaces.
Students did not receive any official communication about immigration officials until Chancellor Kelli Brown and Provost Richard Starnes emailed WCU faculty, staff and students a statement on Feb. 20. The statement covered multiple executive actions and policy changes.
In the statement, Brown and Starnes said no federal or state agencies have approached WCU regarding immigration enforcement.
“In the unlikely event that ICE or other outside law enforcement agents do come to campus, we have provided all departments with a set of guidelines to assist in these interactions,” the statement said. “If you need a copy of these guidelines, please contact the Office of the Provost or the Division of Student Affairs.”
The statement did not provide students with any specific instructions or guidelines. Read the full statement at westerncarolinian.com/2025/2/21/executive-order-statement.
“I do believe SGA should address it,” said Student Government Association president, Aaron Hoyle-Rivera. “The tricky part with that is that we’re trying to be accurate in what we’re addressing and being strategic as well.”
To address and comfort students’ concerns, Hoyle-Rivera is working with SGA to create a red card initiative. According to Hoyle-Rivera, a red card initiative is cards available to students that list various rights usually printed in both English and Spanish.
“These are cards that don’t just benefit students, but people in general,” Hoyle-Rivera said. “We’re hoping to put our twist on it into what’s relative to our location.”
Cards will be available in the SGA office on the first floor of the University Center. SGA hopes to partner with departments to make cards available in other locations as well.
“We’re also developing a rights post similar to what UNC Chapel Hill did with their Student Government Association to remind students of what their rights are and what procedures might follow during any kind of interaction,” Hoyle-Rivera said.
Know your rights post made by UNC Chapel Hill’s executive branch Jan. 28. Courtesy of UNC Chapel Hill’s executive branch’s Instagram.
Know your rights post made by UNC Chapel Hill’s executive branch Jan. 28. Courtesy of UNC Chapel Hill’s executive branch’s Instagram.
On Jan. 28 UNC Chapel Hill’s SGA executive branch shared an infographic on their Instagram for students with their rights, advice and resources in case of interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. This included the right to remain silent, protection from illegal searches, the right to an attorney and more.
Outside of Brown and Starnes’ statement, WCU students still have not received any formal communication giving guidelines or reminding them of their rights in case of an interaction with a federal immigration official.
Though Brown and Starnes said a visit is unlikely, students are still concerned.
“I’ve heard students are scared to go to class and I think that is 100% understandable,” Hoyle-Rivera said. “They’re also scared of things that might happen on campus.”
According to Hoyle-Rivera, this fear, as well as a fear of what could happen to students’ friends and family can have effects on their actions as well as their academics.
“All this comes around full circle into how students perform and their attitudes towards their courses and roles and responsibilities as a student,” Hoyle-Rivera said. “Most of all, these are fee-paying students – all of them are, no matter who it is, as long as they are taking classes – and everyone deserves the right to an accessible, quality education.”
Hoyle-Rivera plans to continue working with university administration to decide how to navigate this situation and communicate with students.
