Guidelines for Addressing Campus Visits by Government Law Enforcement Agencies

Many in our campus community have concerns related to the impact of recent national events on Oberlin’s campus. One such concern involves steps taken by federal law enforcement officials to carry out executive orders pertaining to immigration.

As an institution that welcomes students and employees from around the world, Oberlin has routine interaction with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, to ensure our compliance with federal laws, and we expect those routine interactions to continue.

In response to recent executive orders, it is possible, however unlikely, that ICE officials or other government representatives may visit our campus with unanticipated requests pertaining to immigration status involving Oberlin students or employees. 

In every instance, it is Oberlin’s intent to comply with the law while also protecting the rights of our students, faculty, and staff.

If you are approached by an ICE official or other government representative, please follow these four steps below.

1) CONFIRM: Note that Oberlin intends to comply with ICE and other government officials.

2) CONVEY: Inform the visitors that you are not authorized to respond on behalf of Oberlin College and that all requests for information must be directed to Oberlin’s Office of General Counsel (our legal office) and offer to connect them.

3) CONTACT: Promptly phone the General Counsel’s Office at 440-775-8401 to notify them of the visitors.

4) CONNECT: Guide the visitors to the General Counsel’s Office by providing the address or walking directions from your current location. The General Counsel’s Office address is:

Office of the Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary
Cox Administration Building, Room 200
70 North Professor Street

Cox Administration Building is located between Finney Chapel and Peters Hall,
directly across the street from the western border of Tappan Square.

If your call to the General Counsel’s Office is not answered, please dial Campus Safety 24 hours a day at 440-775-8444. Explain that you are with government officials and request that General Counsel Matt Lahey or Assistant General Counsel Justin Younker be contacted immediately.

Please do not engage with government representatives in any ways not outlined in this document, and do not attempt to physically restrain or restrict their access in any way.

In the coming days, we will share an easy-to-follow reference sheet recapping the guidance above. It is intended to support you if the need for such communications should arise.

On behalf of all of us in the General Counsel’s Office, thank you for your support as we navigate these potential challenges. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at secretary.office@oberlin.edu.

Matt Lahey
Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary