Immigration Enforcement and DU’s Protocol
Dear DU community,
Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard from many of you—and many of my colleagues who have also heard from you—that there is a heightened sense of worry and urgency about immigration enforcement activity nationwide.
At the University of Denver, we take these concerns seriously because we take our sense of community and belonging seriously. Our community is built on care, trust, and a shared belief that every person deserves to feel safe on our campus. As the chancellor, I know the provost shares these sentiments, and our commitment remains unwavering in support of our immigrant community and international students. I can only imagine the fear that comes from the conversations reported in the news. DU will remain committed to our values of non-discrimination, including on the basis of national origin.
I want to reassure you of something important: we have clear, practiced protocols in place and our teams are prepared.
If you ever see or are approached by someone you believe is an ICE officer, your role is simple, and I mean that very intentionally:
Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard from many of you—and many of my colleagues who have also heard from you—that there is a heightened sense of worry and urgency about immigration enforcement activity nationwide.
At the University of Denver, we take these concerns seriously because we take our sense of community and belonging seriously. Our community is built on care, trust, and a shared belief that every person deserves to feel safe on our campus. As the chancellor, I know the provost shares these sentiments, and our commitment remains unwavering in support of our immigrant community and international students. I can only imagine the fear that comes from the conversations reported in the news. DU will remain committed to our values of non-discrimination, including on the basis of national origin.
I want to reassure you of something important: we have clear, practiced protocols in place and our teams are prepared.
If you ever see or are approached by someone you believe is an ICE officer, your role is simple, and I mean that very intentionally:
- Say: “I don’t have authorization to give you access. I need to involve the University’s attorneys.” This is the exact language our Office of General Counsel (OGC) recommends. It is aimed at keeping you safe and allowing the University to carry out its legal responsibilities appropriately.
- Call Campus Safety (303-871-3000) or the Office of General Counsel (303-871-2811). Campus Safety is trained to immediately engage OGC. Our OGC attorneys have procedures for handling these interactions, reviewing documents, and coordinating next steps.
- Never put yourself in danger. You don’t need to confront anyone, interpret documents, or try to manage or document the situation. That is our responsibility to do on the community’s behalf.
Our trained DU teams will take it from there.
Across Campus Safety, the OGC, Student Affairs, and Community Support & Engagement, our teams meet regularly, share updates, and run tabletop exercises to ensure rapid, coordinated response protocols. This is not a plan to become combative, but rather to maintain a level of control over our campus that is expected and deserved.
National headlines can create understandable concern, but at DU, we have clear structures and trained teams in place to respond to these situations. If you have questions about our protocols, are looking for resources, or need clarification for your particular situation, visit our website or reach out to Campus Safety at 303-871-3000.
On a personal note, I value the way our community approaches complex moments with steadiness and professionalism, and I remain grateful for the thoughtful ways in which you show up for one another.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Haefner
Chancellor
Across Campus Safety, the OGC, Student Affairs, and Community Support & Engagement, our teams meet regularly, share updates, and run tabletop exercises to ensure rapid, coordinated response protocols. This is not a plan to become combative, but rather to maintain a level of control over our campus that is expected and deserved.
National headlines can create understandable concern, but at DU, we have clear structures and trained teams in place to respond to these situations. If you have questions about our protocols, are looking for resources, or need clarification for your particular situation, visit our website or reach out to Campus Safety at 303-871-3000.
On a personal note, I value the way our community approaches complex moments with steadiness and professionalism, and I remain grateful for the thoughtful ways in which you show up for one another.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Haefner
Chancellor