In January 2025, President Donald Trump issued a series of executive orders related to the arrest, detainment and/or deportation of undocumented immigrants. One of those directives rescinded the Biden Administration’s guidelines limiting enforcement actions in or near so-called “sensitive” areas, including educational institutions. This means that the college may experience an increase in immigration enforcement activity at AACC, and individuals on campus may come into contact with officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB).
If you have questions regarding admission to AACC, contact the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Development or Emma Thompson, international/non-U.S. citizen admission officer, in the Student Services Center Suite 100, by email at [email protected] or [email protected], or by phone at 410-777-2246 or 410-777-2152. In some cases, we may refer you to outside immigration resources. We strongly encourage all international students to consult with Ms. Thompson prior to any international travel.
For enrollment or tuition questions, contact Nanci Beier, registrar, at 410-777-2834 or email [email protected].
If approached by an ICE official at AACC for any reason, ask the official to wait in an area accessible to the general public (a lobby or foyer) and immediately contact the AACC Department of Public Safety and Police (DPSP) at 410-777-1818. DPSP will coordinate with general counsel to determine next steps, potentially including speaking with the ICE official; reviewing any warrant, subpoena, or request for records; and ensuring that federal law and constitutional rights are upheld. If the situation is not urgent and/or you are uncomfortable contacting DPSP, students may contact the vice president for Learner Support Services at [email protected] or employees may contact human resources at [email protected].
The following legal and immigrant advocacy organizations provide resources, more detailed summaries of an individual’s rights and helpful tips if you are questioned and/or detained by ICE:
AACC will not release information about a student’s immigration status to anyone, including federal immigration officials, without a validly issued, judicially signed subpoena, court order or search warrant. Before providing the information in those cases, AACC notifies the student. Consistent with the Family Educational Right to Privacy Act (FERPA), AACC’s general rule is not to disclose a student’s personal information to anyone outside the college – including government officials or law enforcement officers – without the student’s prior written consent.
Under FERPA, there is an exception that allows the college to release directory information without the student’s prior written consent. This information includes name, address, AACC ID number, AACC email address, telephone numbers, program of study, full-time or part-time enrollment status, terms enrolled, degrees and honors earned and participation in officially recognized college activities or sports. Although this is a broad definition, the college will typically release only name, terms enrolled, full-time or part-time enrollment status, and degrees earned as directory information without student consent.
To have directory information withheld, notify the registrar’s office in person in the Student Services Center or send an email from your MyAACC account to [email protected].
Generally, no. AACC does not have authority to prohibit federal immigration enforcement officers or other law enforcement officers from coming on campus to enforce federal, state or county laws. Also remember that AACC is a public institution and a large portion of AACC is open to the general public. Those areas are also open to federal immigration enforcement officers.
Public access is limited in certain areas of the AACC campus and satellite locations because of privacy concerns, operational needs or safety considerations. Campus buildings and spaces in which access is physically restricted, such as by key card, locked doors or monitored entryways, fall into this category. Limited access spaces also include some administrative or faculty offices, classrooms in session, locker rooms, laboratories, kitchen and food preparation areas, maintenance areas, storage facilities and physical plant operations.
AACC employees are not required to affirmatively assist federal immigration authorities or grant permission to enter limited access space when officers do not have a judicial warrant to enter. In these situations, contact the AACC Department of Public Safety and Police (DPSP) to understand your obligations. However, federal law prohibits you from hiding evidence, concealing or hiding individuals who are the subjects of law enforcement activity or interfering with an arrest. Further, you should not put yourself in physical danger.
The AACC Department of Public Safety and Police (DPSP) does not conduct inquiries about an individual’s citizenship in the regular course of their work. The only exception is when AACC inquires about an individual’s citizenship to make mandated consular notifications to an individual’s home country. Consular notifications are required by federal law as a part of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
DPSP does not have legal authority to prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from conducting operations at AACC or its satellite locations. DPSP will cooperate with federal or local law enforcement agencies in executing their lawful duties and, at the same time, preserve the peace and uninterrupted functioning of the college. DPSP will assist immigration authorities in executing validly issued, judicially signed subpoenas, court orders or search warrants.
The following legal and immigrant advocacy organizations are available for assistance and guidance regarding immigration matters.
ACLU of Maryland
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 350
Baltimore, MD 21211
443-524-2558
AMICA Center for Immigrant Rights
1 N. Charles St., Suite 2305
Baltimore, MD 21201
202-331-3320
Annapolis Immigration Justice Network (AIJN)
1125 West St., Suite 227
Annapolis, MD 21401
443-203-9175
Anne Arundel Community Action Partnership
251 West St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-626-1900
Anne Arundel County Office of Hispanic/Latino and Multicultural Resources
33 Calvert St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-222-0319
Box of Rain
P.O. Box 3557
Annapolis, MD 21403
410-657-3117
Casa De Maryland
8151 15th Ave.
Hyattsville, MD 20783
301-431-4185
Casa De Maryland - Baltimore Welcome Center
2706 Pulaski Highway
Baltimore, MD 21224
410-732-7777
The Center of Help
1906 Forest Drive, Suite 2B
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-295-3434
Centro de los Derechos Del Migrante, Inc.
10 E. North Ave., No. 9
Baltimore, MD 21202
401-783-0236
Community Legal Services
240-391-6370
Esperanza Center (Catholic Charities – Legal Services)
430 S. Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21231
410-534-8015
Global Refuge Baltimore Welcome Center
947 Fell St.
Baltimore, MD 21231
443-365-0472
HIAS
1300 Spring St., Suite 500
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-844-7300
Immigrant Legal Resource Center
International Student and Family Welcome Center
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
1411 Cedar Park Road
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-263-6420
Maryland Commission on Civil Rights
6 Saint Paul St., Suite 900
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-767-8600
Toll Free: 800-637-6247
Maryland Relay: 7-1-1
Maryland Office for Refugees and Asylees
25 S. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
800-332-6347
TTY 800-735-2258
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
201 N. Charles St., Suite 1400
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-539-6800
OHLA Organization of Hispanic Latin Americans of Anne Arundel County, Inc.
80 West St, Suite A
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-269-4421
Path of Hope
255 West St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
443-203-8020
The People's Law Library of Maryland
Annapolis Immigration Justice Network
1125 West St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
443-203-9175
The Salvation Army Annapolis Corps
351 Hilltop Lane
Annapolis, MD 21403
410-263-4091
Tahirih Justice Center
211 E. Lombard St., Suite 307
Baltimore, MD 21202
866-575-0071