Case Western Reserve is committed to providing every member of the campus community a welcoming, diverse and inclusive environment. As part of ensuring the university lives these values, multiple offices, departments and other entities follow policies and practices designed to support them.
In the wake of oral arguments held Nov. 12, 2019, on a U.S. Supreme Court case involving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, CWRU is reminding the campus community of those items relevant both to DACA students and undocumented individuals.
Information Related to Immigration Status
Prospective Students
No university office will inquire about an individual’s immigration status as part of providing information, consideration of an application for admission, or the enrollment process.
Admissions and/or financial aid staff are not required to report or disclose the immigration status of any applicants, even if an applicant discloses that status as part of conversations with these university employees.
For more information relevant to prospective students who may be undocumented or part of the DACA program, please visit the Financial Aid & Admissions page.
Current Students
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) largely prohibits universities that receive federal funds from releasing information about students except in a small number of instances—among them compliance with a judicial subpoena or a health and safety emergency. Case Western Reserve abides by the provisions of FERPA in all cases, including those that may involve a student who is undocumented or part of the DACA program.
In this context, the university normally would not have to comply with an inquiry by a member of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency—such as a student’s class schedule or housing location—in the absence of a subpoena or other judicial order.
Enforcement of immigration-related laws and regulations are the purview of the federal government—not university, city or state police. No campus police or security officer will inquire about a person’s immigration status as part of any interactions with individuals on campus—whether or not they are affiliated with the university.
Campus police also would not have to act in collaboration with an immigration enforcement action unless required to by law, subpoena or other judicial order. That said, federal enforcement officials have the same access to public areas of campus as any other individual.
Resources
For International Students with Questions
Our Center for International Affairs can provide students information and guidance regarding multiple aspects of students’ university experience, regardless of immigration status. The center’s services include walk-in hours.
For International Faculty and Staff with Questions
The university’s office of Immigration and Human Resources Services can provide information and guidance regarding multiple aspects of their university experience, including federal applications for employment authorization and the process of securing the appropriate visa to work at the university.
As with students, no campus police or security officer will inquire about a person’s immigration status as part of any interactions with individuals on campus—whether or not they are affiliated with the university. That said, ICE offers the U-visa for undocumented victims to be able to report certain kinds of crimes without fear of being deported. In some instances such victims may become eligible for a green card, which allows for a change in status to “permanent resident.”