Guidance in Response to Questions About Federal Immigration Enforcement

No, we do not assist with ICE enforcement unless required by law.  

The JHPD policy regarding noncitizen interactions adopted in July 2024 explicitly states:  

“The enforcement of civil federal immigration laws falls exclusively within the authority of ICE officials.” 

JHPD officers “shall not engage in, assist, or support ICE enforcement except when such services are required to safely execute a criminal warrant or court order issued by a federal or state judge, or when necessary to support a criminal investigation, including investigations related to human trafficking.”  

JHPD officers “are not permitted to accept requests by ICE or other agencies to support or assist in civil immigration enforcement operations, including but not limited to immigration detainer requests and requests to establish traffic perimeters related to immigration enforcement.  

JHPD officers “shall not notify ICE of the location of an individual for the purposes of civil immigration enforcement.” 

It is important to remember that the university is obligated to follow the law, and if federal immigration officials present a valid criminal warrant or specific court order issued by a state or federal judge, the university will comply with such orders. 

There is no way for us to bar law enforcement officers from campus.  

Many areas within Johns Hopkins campuses and facilities are open to the public. Federal law enforcement officers are generally authorized by law to enter public spaces without any additional or special permission from Johns Hopkins, and we cannot legally prevent this.  

Some Johns Hopkins spaces are not open to the public. These include areas where JHU/JHHS identification is required for entry—for example, some clinical spaces, administrative and faculty offices, classrooms, residence halls, and other restricted areas and buildings.  

Federal law enforcement officers are not authorized to access these non-public areas without meeting certain legal requirements. Public Safety, in consultation with the Office of General Counsel, is responsible for enforcing these rules, including ensuring that federal law enforcement officers have the appropriate legal authority, such as a valid warrant or court order. 

If a federal law enforcement officer seeks to enter non-public areas, calmly request that the officer wait while you contact Public Safety (or for JHHS, the Attorney on Call). If asked, inform the officer(s) that you do not have authority to consent to entry or searches, and do not accept service of any legal document without contacting the designated University or Health System offices. 

The guidance not to obstruct law enforcement officers is provided to protect all members of our community. It is widely shared by civil liberties and immigrants’ rights organizations, as well as other academic institutions, and is not unique to Johns Hopkins.  

We do not want to put members of our community in the position of having to make a rapid decision under pressure about whether a warrant is valid or whether law enforcement officers have the legal authority to access a particular space. This is why we have designated Public Safety to work with the Office of General Counsel to be responsible for ensuring that legal processes are followed.   

The federal government has stated it intends to enforce criminal laws regarding interference with federal officials, violations of which may result in felony criminal charges. If a federal law enforcement officer takes action, with or without waiting for you to obtain guidance from Johns Hopkins legal and/or public safety personnel, and you attempt to obstruct the officer – such as by blocking their movement or preventing their access – they may interpret that as criminal interference with law enforcement.   

Federal law also explicitly prohibits knowingly concealing, harboring, or shielding from detection someone who is undocumented. The government may interpret this to include actions like notifying that individual that federal law enforcement officers are present or engaging in any behavior in an effort to enable them to leave the premises or hide.  Such actions could result in felony criminal charges and imprisonment.  

It is also important to note that the above guidance was developed to address questions about situations in which an immigration enforcement officer is present at a JHU/JHHS facility for enforcement purposes. The university is not seeking to direct how you should respond more generally to new federal announcements or changes in the immigration policy landscape. 

In accordance with long-standing university protocols, the university does not provide information about the immigration status of members of our community unless required by law. If federal immigration officials present a valid warrant or specific court order, the university will comply with such orders. 

Contact Public Safety for support. If you see or encounter federal law enforcement officers on or near campus, contact Johns Hopkins Public Safety. They will immediately coordinate with the Office of General Counsel to handle the situation for the safety and wellbeing of all involved. 

 If a federal law enforcement officer presents you with a warrant or otherwise asks for access to a non-public space, calmly request that the officer wait while you contact Public Safety (or, for JHHS, the Attorney on Call). If asked, inform the officer(s) that you do not have authority to consent to entry or searches, and do not accept service of any legal document without contacting the designated University or Health System offices.  

There are a number of federal law enforcement agencies that may have various reasons for being on or near campus or JHHS facilities, and it would be a mistake to assume that any immigration officer or other federal official on campus is present for the purpose of detaining or removing a member of our community. 

The Office of International Services is here to support members of our community with immigration and visa-related questions or concerns. Due to the individual nature of visa and immigration matters, international students, scholars, and employees seeking immigration, visa, and travel guidance are encouraged to reach out directly to OIS. Staff are available to provide support by e-mail, phone, and video, and OIS offers around-the-clock services via the iHopkins self-service portal, as well as emergency phone support for potential issues at the time of entry into the U.S.  OIS continuously works with resources across the university centrally and with your divisions to connect individual international students with campus resources, as needed.