Original Date: 2025 | 1/14/2025 (temporary revision expires 07/14/2025)
Policy Contact: President
The following procedures are established to meet the requirements for implementing policy #1510 – Immigration Enforcement Protection.
Procedures
These procedures describe to the fullest extent practicable, and consistent with federal and state law, engagement with federal immigration authorities for the purpose of immigration enforcement. The college will ensure that information reviewed to determine eligibility for in-state tuition or other benefits and any reporting requirements is limited only to the information necessary for residency determinations and in compliance with “Keep Washington Working” and any other applicable state or federal laws. The college will separate all information on individuals with foreign student visa status (F, J and M visas) retained for the purpose of reporting to the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) from general enrollment platforms or other directory information. For information about SEVIS, please refer to Student and Exchange Visitor Program, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, available online at https://www.ice.gov/sevis.
Immigration Enforcement on College Property
Bellevue College does not grant permission for any person engaged, or intending to engage, in immigration enforcement, including surveillance, access to college grounds or their immediate vicinity. College staff and faculty will direct anyone engaging, or intending to engage, in immigration enforcement, including federal immigration authorities with official business that must be conducted on college grounds, to the president or their designee and/or public safety prior to permitting entrance. College staff and faculty will presume that activities by federal immigration authorities, including surveillance, constitute immigration enforcement.
If anyone attempts to engage in immigration enforcement on or near college grounds, including requesting access to a student, employee, or campus property, staff and faculty will immediately alert and direct the person to the president’s office or designee and/or public safety, who will verify and record the person’s credentials (at least badge number and name), record the names of all persons they intend to contact, collect the nature of their business at the college, request a copy of the court order or judicial warrant, and log the date and time and forward the request to the president or designee for review. For the college to consider it valid, any court order or judicial warrant must state the purpose of the enforcement activity, identify the specific search location, name the specific person to whom access must be granted, include a current date, and be signed by a judge.
Written Authority to Enter Campus
The Bellevue College (BC) president or authorized designee will review written authority signed by an appropriate level director of an officer’s agency that permits the requestor to enter college property for a specific purpose. If no written authority exists, the (BC) president or authorized designee will contact the appropriate level director for the officer’s agency to confirm permission has been granted to enter BC property for the specific purpose identified.
Upon receipt and examination of the required information, the Bellevue College president or authorized designee will determine whether access shall be allowed to contact or question the identified individual and shall communicate that decision to the requestor. If the requestor is seeking access or information regarding a student under 18 years old, the Bellevue College president or authorized designee will make a reasonable effort, to the extent allowed by FERPA, to notify the parent/guardian of any immigration enforcement concerning their student, including contact or interview.
Access to Campus
The Bellevue College president or authorized designee shall request the presence of a college representative to be present during any interview between the requestor and the identified individual. Access to information, records, or areas beyond that specified in the court order or judicial warrant shall be denied.
Gathering Immigration Related Information
- College staff will not inquire about, request, or collect any information about immigration or citizenship status or place of birth of any person accessing services provided by, or in connection with the college.
- BC staff will not seek or require information regarding or probative of any person’s citizenship or immigration status where other information may be sufficient for the college’s purposes. This does not prohibit residency officers or related staff from reviewing information from students or others on a voluntary basis to determine that a student is qualified for in-state tuition rates.
- College policies and procedures for gathering and handling student information during enrollment or other relevant periods will be made available in writing to students and their guardian(s) at least once per college year in a manner that Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals will understand.
- If Bellevue College is required to collect and provide information related to a student’s national origin (e.g., information regarding a student’s birthplace, or date of first enrollment in a U.S. college) to satisfy certain federal reporting requirements for special programs or federal financial aid, prior to collecting any such information or reporting the college will (except with respect to reporting requirements necessary for compliance with the Student and Exchange Visitor Program):
- If feasible, consult with legal counsel regarding its options, including alternatives to the specific program or documents accepted as adequate proof for the program.
- Explain reporting requirements to the student and student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s), in their requested language, including possible immigration enforcement impact.
- If moving forward with collection of information, receive and collect written consent from the student, if over the age of 18, or the student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s); and
- Collect and maintain this information separately from the college/class enrollment process and student’s records to avoid deterring enrollment of immigrants or their children.
- When Bellevue College reviews information related to immigration status to make residency determinations, the residency officer’s written confirmation that a student meets any applicable immigration status requirement shall be considered sufficient written evidence that a student meets the requirements of RCW 28B.15.012. All other documents used to prove student or other individual immigration status, aside from those independently required by law to be kept, shall be designated as transitory and disposed of in accordance with the BC records retention policy. Any BC staff maintaining said information in any other way shall report their retention procedure and basis to the Bellevue College president or authorized designee prior to collecting the information.
Responding to Requests for Information
- College staff will not share, provide, or disclose personal information about any person for immigration enforcement purposes without a court order or judicial warrant requiring the information’s disclosure or approval by Bellevue College president or authorized designee, except as required by law. Requests by federal immigration authorities shall be presumed to be for immigration enforcement purposes.
- College staff shall immediately report receipt of any information request relating to immigration enforcement to Bellevue College president or authorized designee, and/or public safety, who shall document the request.
- The college shall, to the extent allowed by FERPA, notify the student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s) of the request for information as soon as possible.
Annual Employee Training
Annual employee training will be conducted. “Know Your Rights” flyers, cards, and materials will be distributed to students in various formats and languages appropriate to the student population.
Use of College Resources
- Bellevue College’s resources shall not be used to engage in, aid, or in any way assist with immigration enforcement.
- College resources and policies regarding immigration enforcement shall be published and distributed to students and their parent(s) or guardian(s) on an annual basis. These resources shall include, at minimum:
- Information about accommodations for limited English proficiency, disability accommodations, special education programs (if applicable), and tuition assistance grant or loan programs that may be available regardless of immigration or citizenship status.
- General information policies including the types of records maintained by the college a list of the circumstances or conditions under which BC might release student information to outside people or entities, including limitations under FERPA and other relevant laws.
- Policies regarding the retention and destruction of personal information.
- The process of establishing consent from students and their parent(s) or guardian(s), as permitted under federal and state law, prior to releasing a student’s personal information for immigration enforcement purposes, i.e. name and contact information for BC’s designated point of contact on immigration related matters; and
- “Know Your Rights” resources and emergency preparedness forms to have completed in the event of a family separation.
Relevant Laws and Resources
- RCW 28B.15 College and University Fees
- RCW 43.10.310(2) Immigration enforcement model policies—Adoption by schools, health facilities, courthouses.
- RCW 43.17.420 Immigration and citizenship status – definitions
- RCW 43.17.425 Immigration and citizenship status – restrictions
- E2 SSB 5497 Keep Washington Working Act
Revision History
Original 1/14/2025 (President’s Cabinet provided temporary approval for this procedure on 1/14/2025. This temporary approval expires on 7/14/2025.)
Approved By
Board of Trustees
Last Updated January 31, 2025