Guidance Regarding Federal Law Enforcement Activity and Immigration Enforcement
The following guidance is being provided to the NJIT community concerning federal immigration enforcement activities conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement(“ICE”).
The following guidance is being provided to the NJIT community concerning federal
immigration enforcement activities conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(“ICE”). NJIT is a public research university and, as such, many university spaces are open to
the public. Public spaces do not require a judicial warrant for entry. There are areas on campus
that are not considered public spaces and, for those private areas, ICE agents generally must have
a judicial warrant.
If a member of the NJIT community (faculty, staff, or students) sees federal law enforcement
authorities, such as ICE, on any part of campus, they should immediately contact NJIT Public
Safety by calling 9-1-1, and say location "NJIT" Members of the NJIT community should
not interfere, impede, or obstruct any federal law enforcement authorities, including ICE.
NJIT Public Safety will respond and serve as the primary point of contact for federal law
enforcement authorities, including ICE, and will determine their purpose on campus and whether
a judicial warrant is required. Only NJIT’s Office of General Counsel is authorized to accept
service of any legal documents on behalf of NJIT, such as judicial warrants, court orders, or
subpoenas. Public Safety will work with NJIT’s Office of General Counsel to the extent that
there is a judicial warrant, subpoena, or other legal documents provided. The safety of our
campus community is a top priority, and NJIT is committed to complying with federal and state
laws. Thank you for your cooperation.
Federal Law Enforcement Activity and Immigration Enforcement Frequently Asked Questions
Our police are empowered to conduct police actions throughout the state of New Jersey, within any limitations, if any, imposed by NJIT. We have a strong working relationship with the Newark Police Department, Essex County Sheriff’s Office, and Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. We regularly meet to discuss issues affecting NJIT and the greater Newark area across a range of law enforcement topics.
Law enforcement agencies must comply with the Immigrant Trust Directive, Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2018-6 v2.0. This 2018 directive was created to strengthen trust between New Jersey’s law enforcement officers and the state’s diverse immigrant communities. The Directive limits the types of voluntary assistance that New Jersey’s law enforcement officers may provide to federal immigration authorities.
NJIT does not have the authority to interfere with federal authorities and/or federal law enforcement. NJIT cannot issue a notification about their presence on our campus, as it could be construed as interfering with a federal investigation. Should any member of the NJIT community notice federal immigration enforcement activity on campus, they should notify NJIT Police immediately so that we may communicate with the agents to determine their purpose at NJIT and, if necessary, notify the relevant senior administration.
NJIT does not have the authority to interfere with federal authorities and/or federal law enforcement. Notification of federal agents' actions on or near NJIT could be construed as interfering with federal immigration enforcement. NJIT Public Safety will serve as the primary point of contact should there be any activity on NJIT’s campus.