Guidance on Interactions with ICE
If approached by ICE contact:
Business Hours:
Office of General Counsel- Notify Supervisor | 612-624-4100
After Hours
Doug Peterson 612-624-7569, dougp@umn.edu
Brian Slovut 612-624-8870, slov0002@umn.edu
Safety around Campus and Affiliate Sites:
Campus: Safe Walk, Rave Guardian (Virtual Safe Walk), and Gopher Chauffeur
Affiliate Sites
Vital Worklife Emergent Resources:
24/7 Counseling Support: For immediate support with anxiety, stress, or anger management, our Talk to a Counselor Now service is available 24/7.
Counseling Services: We offer confidential counseling sessions, both in-person and virtually, where residents/fellows can explore coping skills and build resilience.
Tips and Resources: https://www.vitalworklife.com/learn/tips/emergency-resources
Digital Platform: Download our new mobile app for mental health and well-being support that’s available when you need it most. They can also register/login at VITALWorkLife.com.
Faculty and Staff
UMN Door Sign: UMN-approved and can be printed and put on the doors of offices, conference rooms, or anywhere there is "a reasonable expectation of privacy"
Student Legal Services
Schedule an appt for consultation
Federal Immigration Policies
University of Minnesota Rapid Response
Turnsignl
App (comes with cost), but with a touch of a button will record any police encounter and connect with you a lawyer that can help de-escalate the situtation.
2026.1.14 Immigration Advice from Immigration Attorney's Office
Here is attorney's recommendation:
For individuals in lawful nonimmigrant status in the United States (such as H-1B, O1 or J-1 status), please carry proof of your legal status at all times. It is recommended that you carry at least the following documents with you:
1. Valid/unexpired Passport or a REAL ID driver’s license (or a paper copy if concerned about losing original documents);
2. I-94 record [Your most recent record may be attached at the bottom of your most recent I-797 USCIS Approval Notice or from your more recent reentry to the United States, available here]; and
3. Copy of Current Status Documentation, which varies according to status as follows:
a. F-1 Students – Form I-20 (signed)
b. J-1 Scholars and Exchange Program Visitors – Form DS-2019 (signed)
c. H-1B/O1 Professional Employees – Form I-797 Approval Notice
d. Other Statuses – You should contact your immigration attorney to determine what specific documentation is required to document your registration and lawful nonimmigrant status.
For individuals who are Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States (i.e., who have received a “green card”), you should carry a copy of your green card with you at all times. US citizens are not required by law to carry documentation of their status, but it is advisable to carry your driver’s license and a copy of a US passport biographical page or a naturalization certificate just in case.
While it is advisable for you to retain electronic copies of these relevant documents on your phone or other electronic device(s) [saved locally on your device in an organized folder that is easy to access without internet], it is recommended that you carry paper copies of the relevant documents for convenience and for your personal privacy. You may also wish to keep duplicate copies of these relevant documents in other secure locations, such as in your car, in your backpack, wallet/purse, or other personal items, as well as with a trusted contact. If the originals of any of the required documents are lost, stolen, or destroyed, you should promptly request a replacement and carry a copy of missing document and the receipt notice for the replacement application.
It should also be noted that, pursuant to USCIS regulations, USCIS should be notified of any change of address within ten days of the change. Failure to comply with this regulation may result in being placed in removal proceedings. This can be done by filing Form AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card and mailing it in, or on-line at USCIS Online Account. USCIS recommends using the online tool so your change of address will be processed timely to ensure you receive all correspondence from USCIS regarding any pending applications.
It is a situation that our State has never been through before. Each person needs to access their own level of risk and comfort being out.
If anyone is detained:
HOW TO LOCATE SOMEONE IN ICE CUSTODY:
Finding someone who has been detained by ICE or CBP can be difficult. This National Immigration Law Center guide has a variety of options to try: How to Find a Loved One After a U.S. Immigration Arrest - NILC. This will often require persistence over a few days, as detainees may not appear in the ICE detainee locator while they are in transit, and we have seen many people from Minnesota be transferred to Texas in recent days.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND KNOW YOUR REALITY:
Bystander Training: National Immigration Project and National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG) holds both legal and community-based trainings. The slides from their latest community training can be found here (bystander training starts on slide 19): https://fredlaw.cloudimanage.com/work/link/d/FB1!90227963.1 Additional NIPNLG resources can be found here: National Immigration Project | Lawyers for the Movement.
MMCGME Site Information Re: Ice
MMCGME in partnership with affiliate sites are updating Med Ed to Go with specific site protocol. Please download the app or view online.
Humphrey International Student Association:
General overview, Ice Encounters, Need help?, and how to read a judicial warrant
A compilation of emails with resources sent by the University and affiliate sites in one place.
Tips for Parents and speaking to your children