Immigration Updates and Resources

On January 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security rescinded the protected areas policy, removing protocol that previously limited immigration enforcement from sensitive locations, including schools. While the university does not have information to indicate an increase in immigration enforcement at its campuses, we have organized information and resources for our university community.

K-State Contacts

Each K-State campus and our Extension offices have identified a point person for any questions or inquiries surrounding any potential ICE actions at K-State. The appropriate contact below should be your first point of contact for faculty and staff should any interaction with ICE occur.

• Manhattan Campus: Thomas Lane, vice president for academic success and student affairs and dean of students. Call 785-395-DEAN (785-395-3326) for assistance.
• Olathe Campus: Kimberly Voight, director of student services. Call 913-307-7313 for assistance.
• Salina Campus: Kyle Chamberlin, associate dean for academic success and student affairs. Call 785-670-6678 for assistance.
• Extension Offices: Gregg Hadley, assistant vice president and director for extension. Call 785-532-1624 for assistance.

The contact you reach out to above will work with necessary university partners, including the Office of General Counsel and the applicable police department, to verify the ICE agent's credentials and ensure the agents posess the required warrant(s).

FERPA Remains Unchanged

University policies regarding disclosure of student records remain the same under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, known as FERPA. We do not release student records without written consent from the student or a lawfully issued subpoena, warrant or judicial order. It remains our policy to require the necessary legal documents before disclosing student records or information derived from student records.

Additional Resources and Information

View specific guidance for students, faculty and staff, as well as other resources available to the university community.

View Additional Resources and Information

As a public university, Kansas State University welcomes the public to a significant portion of its campuses. However, access is restricted or limited in areas due to privacy concerns, operational needs or safety considerations. Federal immigration enforcement officers are subject to these same access restrictions and must adhere to university protocols when entering non-public spaces.

Below, we have provided a general guide of areas that may be open to the public, including ICE, and those that are typically restricted. Please note this is a tool for general understanding, and there may be circumstances in which access allowances change.

It is also important to note that ICE or federal Department of Homeland Security officials may be on campus for reasons unrelated to enforcement actions such as career recruitment events and guest lectures.

1. You have the right to remain silent.
   1. If ICE agents come to your door, you are not required to answer their questions. You have the right to remain silent. You may say, “I am exercising my right to remain silent and would like to speak with my attorney.”
2. You have the right to ask for identification.
   1. ICE officers must identify themselves and show their badges if they are at your door. You can ask to see their identification before engaging with them. If they refuse to show their identification, you are under no obligation to open the door.
3. You do not have to let ICE in without a warrant.
   1. You are not required to open the door unless ICE has a warrant signed by a judge. If the officers claim they have a warrant, ask them to slide it under the door or hold it up to the window so you can examine it. Make sure the warrant is signed by a judge and specifies the address where they are authorized to search.
   2. If the ICE agents do not have a valid warrant, you can refuse entry. Politely say, “I do not consent to your entry,” and do not open the door.
4. You have the right to call an attorney.
   1. If you are detained or questioned by ICE, you have the right to contact an attorney. If you do not have an attorney, we can help you find legal representation. It is crucial that you do not sign anything or make any decisions without consulting an attorney.
   2. When you call an attorney, let them know it pertains to a detained client so they are able to handle the call adequately.
5. Stay calm and document the encounter.
   1. If ICE comes to your door, try to stay calm and avoid confrontation. You can also record the interaction if it is safe to do so, as long as it does not interfere with their activities. This documentation can be useful if there are any legal issues or concerns later on.
6. If you are arrested, you have the right to know why.
   1. If ICE arrests you, they must tell you the reason for the arrest. You also have the right to know what charges you are facing and may request a hearing before an immigration judge.
7. Know the rights of family members.
   1. If you have family members in your home, know that they also have rights. They do not have to answer questions from ICE, and they also do not have to open the door without a warrant.
8. If a student's immigration status is impacting their ability to attend classes, who can assist?
   1. Contact the Office of Student Support and Accountability – studentsupport@k-state.edu.

Our Immigration and Deportation FAQ may also provide helpful information to you.

1. Remain calm and professional. Stay composed to avoid escalating the situation.
2. Request identification and documentation. Politely ask for the ICE agent's name, identification number and agency affiliation.
3. Engage the designated university contact. Inform the officer that you are not obstructing their process but need to contact the appropriate K-State contact:
   1. Manhattan Campus: Thomas Lane, vice president for academic success and student affairs and dean of students. Call 785-395-DEAN (785-395-3326) for assistance.
   2. Olathe Campus: Kimberly Voight, director of student services. Call 913-307-7313 for assistance.
   3. Salina Campus: Kyle Chamberlin, associate dean for academic success and student affairs. Call 785-670-6678 for assistance.
   4. Extension Offices: Gregg Hadley, assistant vice president and director for extension. Call 785-532-1624 for assistance.
4. Protect student and employee privacy.
   1. Again, inform the agent that you are consulting with appropriate university personnel who will be able to answer their questions and that you are not obstructing their process.
   2. Please do not answer questions that provide personally identifiable information about yourself or anyone else unless required by a valid subpoena/warrant and told to do so by Dr. Thomas Lane or his designee. This ensures we remain compliant with FERPA and other applicable privacy laws. Examples of personally identifiable information may include and are not limited to name, contact information (phone number and/or email), class lists, student schedules, etc.
5. Seek and/or direct to additional support services as needed following the interaction.
   1. Students:
      1. Lafene Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) - 785-532-6927
      2. Text START to 741-741 (National Crisis Text Line)
      3. Student of Concern Referral Form:
         1. Manhattan (includes online)
         2. Salina
         3. Olathe
   2. Faculty:
      1. Employee Assistance Program

Please see below some aggregated key articles and news of interest over the past several years.

• Waivers for DACA Recipients Open Narrow Path For Work Relief, June 27, 2024
  • An initiative by the Biden administration to steer undocumented young people with college degrees to long-term employment-based visas may offer relief to only a narrow group of Dreamers.
• Biden administration moves to formalize DACA and shield it from legal challenges, August 24, 2022
  • The Biden administration on Wednesday finalized a rule to transform the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration policy for more than 600,000 so-called "Dreamers" into a federal regulation, a move aimed at protecting the program from legal challenges that imperil its existence.
• White House Immigration Goals to Focus on H-1Bs, Fees and DACA, July 19, 2022
  • Over the next several months, the Biden administration plans to work on policy proposals that continue the reformation of the H-1B visa program for professional foreign workers—including raising the wages of those workers—as well as increasing application and petition filing fees for a range of immigration benefits.
• Federal appeals court in New Orleans hears arguments on immigrants brought to US as kid, July 6, 2022
  • Attorneys hoping to save an Obama-era program that prevents the deportation of thousands of people brought into the U.S. as children told a federal appeals court in New Orleans Wednesday that ending the program would cruelly disrupt the lives of thousands who have grown up to become tax-paying, productive drivers of the U.S. economy.

• Kansas Governor, Laura Kelly joined other states in legal action supporting the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Oct. 4, 2019
  • Kelly joined Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin, as well as Montana Governor Steve Bullock, in filing an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in support of DACA.