In 2018, the State of New Jersey issued the Immigrant Trust Directive, which provided guidance on federal immigration initiatives to all law enforcement agencies in the State of New Jersey. This directive has the full weight of law and the College is guided by it. For more information, follow the links for a Summary of the Immigration Trust Directive or the Full Version of the Immigration Trust Directive. The Ramapo College Public Safety Office maintains and is trained on policies and procedures that are in accordance with New Jersey Attorney General Directive 2018-6, known as the Immigrant Trust Directive.

Given that Ramapo College is a public institution on public property, federal immigration authorities are not precluded from being on campus.  Federal immigration authorities are precluded from directing the Ramapo College Public Safety Office or the Mahwah Police Department (MPD) to serve as agents in their stead. It is crucial to maintain a clear distinction between federal immigration authorities and the Ramapo College Public Safety Office or the Mahwah Police Department (MPD).

In the event of activity by federal immigration authorities on Ramapo College property, the Public Safety Office should be immediately notified by phone at 201-684-6666 or by using the RaveGuardian app. 

The Public Safety Office will serve as the point of contact, respond to, and meet with the federal immigration authorities to determine their purpose on campus, verify their credentials, and ensure the necessary paperwork is in order.  The College is not required to grant access for immigration officials to premises not open to the general public absent an official judicial search warrant, an arrest warrant signed by a judge, or exigent circumstances.  Upon verification of the judicial warrant or other court order, the College will not have the authority to interfere.

Students and College personnel are not required to assist with the apprehension of a person identified in an administrative warrant. However, for safety considerations, students and College personnel should never physically resist or interfere with federal immigration authorities, nor should students or College personnel put themselves or others at risk. If students and College personnel are approached by federal immigration authorities, they are encouraged to not interfere with law enforcement proceedings but rather to contact the Public Safety Office.

Federal immigration authorities enforcing a valid judicial warrant or other court order on College property will result in notification to Ramapo College leadership through the Office of the General Counsel. The Public Safety Office will make notification to the appropriate County Prosecutor’s Office. 

Your residence hall room is considered a private residence. Under the Fourth Amendment, federal immigration agents cannot enter your room without your specific consent or without a judicial warrant signed by a judge. A warrant signed by a federal immigration official (an “administrative warrant”) is not enough to enter your private living space.

While federal policy regarding “sensitive locations” has changed, New Jersey public colleges are not required to cooperate with immigration arrests. If federal agents attempt to enter a classroom, college protocol requires them to present a judicial warrant. Faculty should notify the Public Safety Office or the Office of General Counsel immediately to verify these documents.

No. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the college is prohibited from releasing private educational records, including home address and class schedule, to federal authorities unless they present a subpoena or a court order.

No. Under the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Directive, the Public Safety Office and local NJ law enforcement are prohibited from participating in civil immigration enforcement operations. The Public Safety Office will not ask about your status or assist in arrests for immigration violations.

You have the right to remain silent; you can choose not to answer questions about your citizenship or where you were born. You can ask for a lawyer by stating clearly, “I want to speak to a lawyer.” You are not required to sign any documents without a lawyer present. If it is safe to do so, please call or ask someone nearby to contact the Public Safety Office (via the RaveGuardian app or by calling 201-684-6666) to report the presence of federal immigration authorities on campus.

If you have specific questions about your student visa, employment authorization, or other issues related to your status at Ramapo College, we encourage you to speak with an advisor in the Office of International Programs and the Office of International Student and Scholar Services in the Roukema Center for International Education.

International Students are encouraged to keep a copy of their passport picture page, F-1 or J-1 visa page, and current I-20 (DS-2019 for J-1 students) with them at all times. International students traveling outside of New Jersey should carry their original documents. International students may consider avoiding unnecessary international travel.

• National Immigration Law Center: Know Your Rights
• New Jersey Human Services: Know Your Rights – Immigrants’ Rights
• New Jersey Human Services: Legal Services
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center: Know Your Rights and What Immigrant Families Should Do Now
• NJ Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) Guidance: Official state broadcast on immigration enforcement at NJ institutions
• American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Guide: Comprehensive protocols for higher education employees
• Presidents’ Alliance Toolkit (Jan 2026): Current administrative protocols for the 2026 academic year
• Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ): Provides a dedicated Immigration Representation Project for low-income residents
• American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) – Newark: A provider of legal services for immigrant rights in New Jersey
• American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Directory: Use this tool to find private immigration attorneys specializing in removal defense