Supporting Undocumented Students at Goucher College

Goucher admits academically qualified students and provides campus services to all regardless of their immigration status. The Office of Equity and Inclusive Excellence, the Center for Race Equity and Identity (CREI), the Counseling Center, and Student Support and Outreach offer support services to all students.

Students are encouraged to reach out to The Office of Equity and Inclusive Excellence at inclusion@goucher.edu for assistance in understanding what services are available to students’ specific circumstances and help in accessing those services. Conversations might include discussion of financial resources, connections to legal resources, learning about advocacy efforts for legislation supporting childhood arrivals, and/or emotional support. Individual legal advice cannot be provided.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) is an executive action issued by President Barack Obama in 2012 that provides administrative relief from federal deportation laws and allows employment authorization to certain qualifying undocumented individuals who came to the United States as children before June 15, 2007.

On Sept. 5, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initiated the phase out of the program. Several lawsuits have been filed against the administration for terminating DACA unlawfully and the situation regarding DACA is currently in flux.

Because of the ongoing changes and litigation surrounding the DACA program, it is important that DACA students work closely with an immigration attorney to take all reasonable precautions related to their personal circumstances. In addition, DACA students who have work authorization should monitor developments related to their employment authorization closely and apply for renewals as early as possible.

An explanation about DACA and the status of ongoing litigation can be found on the website of the National Immigration Law Center.

Because of the uncertainty of the situation, Goucher recommends that DACA students consult with an immigration attorney if they want to leave the U.S. temporarily to meet Goucher's study abroad requirement. Those who desire an alternative to fulfill the study abroad requirement should review Goucher’s Policy for Study Abroad Substitution Request (PDF) to learn about the approval process.

Pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), with very few exceptions, the education records of all students, regardless of their immigration status, are protected from disclosure to external parties. This includes students’ addresses, class schedules, information about their family members, information about immigration status, and similar information.

It is important to note, however, that Goucher must comply with requests for information regarding the international students attending Goucher through its F and J visa sponsorship programs. Information requests and site visits will be handled by the Designated School Officials in the Office of Global Education.

Any Goucher community member approached by a government agent should escort the government agent to the Office of Campus Safety as per Goucher's Policy on Immigration Enforcement Actions on Campus (PDF). 

The Office of Campus Safety will not initiate questions about a person’s immigration status. This includes crime victims, witnesses, or others who call or approach an officer seeking assistance. This is consistent with the office’s longstanding practice. The office wants all individuals to feel comfortable reporting a crime, cooperating with officers or reaching out to the officers for assistance. If undocumented individuals believe that reporting a crime, sharing information with the police, or seeking help from the police could negatively impact them because of their immigration status, they are less likely to do so. That is not in the best interest of their safety or campus safety in general.

Goucher’s public spaces are open to the general population, and as such the College does not have the ability to bar federal enforcement officials from the College’s public spaces. However, residential spaces such as on-campus residential rooms are considered private, and federal enforcement officials are not permitted in such spaces absent a valid judicial warrant or consent of the resident. An administrative warrant alone does not permit ICE officials to enter a private residence. For further information, please refer to Goucher’s Policy on Immigration Enforcement Actions on Campus (PDF).

Goucher does not have the legal authority to intervene in immigration court proceedings should a member of our community be detained or subject to an order of removal. Immigration court proceedings are federal administrative hearings.

HigherEd Immigration Portal: An initiative of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration that integrates data, policies, and resources about DACA and undocumented, other immigrant, international, and refugee students in one place. The organization’s goal is to support immigration reform and federal policymaking, fuel change at the state and campus level, and build a diverse movement of partners and stakeholders advocating for these students.

Immigration Law Help: Find organizations that provide low-cost legal assistance for immigrants.

Immigration Legal Resource Center: The ILRC seeks to improve immigration law and policy, expand the capacity of legal service providers, and advance immigrant rights. More specifically, take a look at their Family Preparedness Plan and Red Cards to assert your rights.

National Immigration Law Center: Coverage of key legal issues impacting immigrant communities.

ACLU Know Your Rights, Immigrants’ Rights