Your Safety Is Our Priority

You should contact BUPD at 617-353-2121 if you are concerned about the presence of ICE or other outside law enforcement officers on campus. For your safety, try to remain calm and do not take any action that could be perceived as interfering with officers’ official duties. This could include physically touching officers, providing false information to them, or concealing or moving individuals who are the targets of their law enforcement activity. While members of the BU community may exercise their constitutional rights, such as free speech, you could be subject to criminal prosecution if you attempt to interfere with officers’ duties.

Many areas of the University are not open to the public. Outside law enforcement officers are not authorized to access these non-public areas without meeting certain legal requirements, such as having a valid warrant or court order. The legal requirements are complicated, and you should not seek to determine for yourself whether they have been met. Rather, if you are approached by an outside law enforcement officer seeking access to University property, advise the officer that you are not obstructing their process but are not authorized to grant them access to the property, and ask the officer to wait while you contact BUPD for assistance. BUPD will work with the Office of the General Counsel and other University offices to address the request in accordance with the law. BUPD is located at 32 Harry Agganis Way and can be reached by phone at 617-353-2121. If an outside law enforcement officer insists on entering University property, for your own safety, do not attempt to interfere with their actions.

Personally identifiable information from student education records, health records, and personnel records, as well as other personal information, is protected by various state and federal privacy laws, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). If you are approached by an outside law enforcement officer seeking University information, advise the officer that you are not obstructing their process but are not authorized to provide or confirm any information, and ask the officer to wait while you contact BUPD for assistance. BUPD will work with the Office of the General Counsel and other University offices to address the request in accordance with the law. BUPD is located at 32 Harry Agganis Way and can be reached by phone at 617-353-2121.

BUPD does not have the authority to enforce federal immigration law nor to detain individuals based solely on their immigration status. We are here to protect and serve all members of our University, regardless of immigration status. BUPD will never ask about an individual’s immigration status. If federal immigration officers were to come to campus seeking access to University property or University information, BUPD would work with the Office of the General Counsel to determine whether the officers possess a validly issued warrant or subpoena.

BUPD is here to protect and serve all members of our University. BUPD does not enforce federal immigration law and will never ask about an individual’s immigration status. Personally identifying information from student education records is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). In the event of a request for information about a student, BUPD would work with the Office of the General Counsel and other University offices to address the request in accordance with the law.

We encourage international students to be cautious, informed, and to use their best judgment when deciding whether and how to engage in any student activism, including with respect to their use of social media. If you violate University policies or US laws while participating in a protest or demonstration, there may be a negative impact on your immigration status now and/or in the future as well as your ability to remain in the US or reenter the country. We remind all students to follow the University’s Events and Demonstrations Policy. International students may also want to review this guide from the National Immigration Law Center prior to participating in any protests.

You should carry your US immigration documents on your person at all times. Many students prefer keeping digital copies on a mobile device to safeguard their documents, but federal regulations require you to have the following documents in your possession to document your lawful status to be in the US. You should:

• Carry a printed copy of your most recent I-20 or DS-2019 document.
• Carry a printed copy of your most recent I-94 arrival record; and
• Carry your passport, which must be valid at least six months into the future.

To help you maintain your lawful status in the US, it is important that you understand the following:

• Address Updates: You are required to update your local US and your foreign address within 10 days of a move. Learn how to update your address in the MyBU Student Portal and ISSOPortal so that the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) can update your addresses in SEVIS.
• Enrollment: You must maintain a full course load of study during the academic year and be careful not to exceed online course enrollment limits. Summers are permitted vacation periods, provided that you will enroll in the following fall term. In your final term of study, or in the event of a medical challenge, you should contact your ISSO advisor and discuss your situation and your eligibility for a Reduced Course Load. Never withdraw from classes that could change your full-time enrollment status without first speaking to your ISSO advisor.
• Program Expiration Date: Pay close attention to the program end date on your I-20 or DS-2019. It is the expiration date of your lawful F-1 or J-1 status. If you need additional time to complete your studies, apply for a program extension through the ISSOPortal in advance.
• Employment: Do not exceed on-campus employment restrictions and never work off campus without authorization. Degree-seeking students may work up to 20 hours per week on campus during the academic year. For off-campus employment, you must be authorized in advance through F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT or J-1 Academic Training before starting any work. Refresh your knowledge about employment options on the ISSO website.

You should check the ISSO website regularly for helpful updates, and contact your ISSO advisor if you have questions about traveling, your visa status, and/or CPT/OPT status.

You may also wish to familiarize yourself with your legal rights in the event you are approached by federal immigration authorities. There are numerous “Know Your Rights” guides available online, including this guide from the National Immigration Law Center.

It’s natural to feel worried or upset during times of uncertainty, but you don’t have to face things alone. There are dedicated organizations and trained professionals who can help.

• Visit Mental Health at Student Health Services for a list of BU’s mental health resources and support groups for students.
• Faculty and staff are encouraged to call the Faculty & Staff Assistance Office for support.
• Students are encouraged to contact the Dean of Students for support. Visit the Dean of Students website, 617-353-4126, or email dos@bu.edu.
• For international student assistance, including visa information, visit the International Students & Scholars Office.
• Mass.gov also has many local resources on their website, including information for immigrant students and those at Massachusetts colleges and universities with questions about immigration enforcement.