VI - 9.12 Policy on Sensitive Locations

 

I. PURPOSE

Bowie State University aims to ensure that members of the campus community, including faculty, staff, students, and guests, feel safe and secure while accessing services or otherwise participating in university-related activities. In compliance with the Maryland Values Act and pursuant to guidance from the Maryland Attorney General, this policy establishes procedures applicable to federal immigration enforcement activity on the Bowie State University campus.

II. APPLICABILITY

This policy applies to immigration enforcement on property owned, leased, or operated by Bowie State University. This includes buildings, including offices, classrooms, residence halls, recreational facilities, and grounds. All Bowie State University employees, including faculty, staff, contractual, and student workers, are required to comply with the provisions of the policy.

III. DEFINITIONS

Administrative warrant – an order issued by a federal agency and signed by an immigration officer.

Exigent Circumstances – emergency situations that require law enforcement to act immediately to address a threat to public safety, without pausing to obtain the prior approval from a judge, including risk of death, violence, or harm to a person or property, hot pursuit of a dangerous suspect, and the imminent risk of the destruction of evidence of a crime.

Judicial warrant – a formal, written order issued by a state or federal court and signed by a judge or magistrate.

Public Space – unrestricted access permissible.

Private Space – access restricted to those specifically authorized by the University. Private spaces shall be marked with clear signage.

Sensitive Location – a public school, public library, a health care facility operated by a unit of state government, a facility operated by the comptroller, a courthouse, or any other location that provides state-funded services related to physical or mental health, education, or shelter care, and as determined by the Attorney General, requires special consideration for immigration enforcement activities.

IV. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

  1. Bowie State University does not consent to the conduct of civil immigration enforcement operations on its campus.
  2. Bowie State University is a public university, and therefore, all spaces on the campus are public with the exception of those designated as “Private Spaces”. Private spaces include individual faculty and staff offices and workspaces, classrooms, residence halls, laboratories, and storage facilities. Access to private spaces is limited to authorized faculty, staff, students, and invited guests.
  3. Bowie State University employees are required to deny access to private spaces to any federal agents/agencies who are seeking access for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration law unless said agent/agency presents a valid judicial warrant or asserts that exigent circumstances exist.
  4. Bowie State University employees shall not actively interfere nor affirmatively impede federal officers, including ICE agents.
  5. Bowie State University employees cannot conceal individuals who are sought for law enforcement purposes or interfere with arrests, but are not required to assist federal agents in apprehending individuals.

V. IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AT BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY

  1. The Bowie State University Department of Public Safety (BSUDPS) shall be the primary point of contact for issues related to immigration enforcement.
  2. If federal immigration enforcement authorities appear on campus, Bowie State University employees shall presume that they are engaged in immigration enforcement and proceed as follows:
    • Contact BSUDPS immediately;
    • Ask the federal agents to wait in a lobby or other public space;
    • If the agents demand immediate access without waiting for BSUDPS, the employee should state they do not consent to such access but should not attempt to stop or impede the agents; and
    • Make a record of the incident, including notes about the verbal exchange, identifying details about the federal agents, the agent’s actions, any arrests or other results of those actions, and the identity of other employee witnesses.
  3. BSUDPS shall make and maintain records of all immigration enforcement activity on the campus.
  4. BSUDPS shall request and record the following information from any federal agent or official who appears at the University on immigration business:
    • Name
    • Badge number or other official identifying information
    • Agency
    • Purpose of visit
    • Proposed action to be taken at the University
  5. If an immigration officer requests access to private spaces on the campus in order to conduct enforcement action, BSUDPS may authorize such access only if the officer possesses a valid judicial warrant or asserts that exigent circumstances exist.
  6. To confirm the existence of a valid judicial warrant, BSUDPS shall:
    • Obtain a copy of the document,
    • Confirm that the heading shows the document was issued by a court;
    • Confirm that a U.S. District Court Judge or Magistrate signed it;
    • Confirm that it lists the BSU campus among the places to be searched for a wanted person or evidence; and
    • Verify that the document has not expired.
  7. BSUDPS should consult with the General Counsel’s office about any questions concerning a judicial warrant or the existence of exigent circumstances. If immigration officers deny the opportunity to consult with counsel, BSUDPS shall state that they do not consent to the agent’s entry but should not block or impede access.
  8. If immigration officers proceed into a private space without a judicial warrant or exigent circumstances, BSUDPS shall notify counsel, state that the officers lack permission, but make no effort to resist or block the immigration officers.

VI. REQUESTS BY IMMIGRATION OFFICERS FOR RECORDS OR INFORMATION

  1. It is the policy of Bowie State University to refer all external requests for information to the Office of the General Counsel, unless state or federal law otherwise requires an immediate response.
  2. During business hours, if any Bowie State University faculty or staff is approached by a federal law enforcement representative requesting information, said representative should be referred to the Office of the General Counsel.
  3. During non-business hours, if any Bowie State University faculty or staff is approached by a federal law enforcement representative, said representative should be referred to the Bowie State University Department of Public Safety.
  4. Bowie State University employees are required to deny requests by federal agents/agencies to inspect a part of a public record for immigration enforcement purposes unless the agent/ agency presents a valid judicial warrant, and said warrant has been verified by the Office of the General Counsel.

VII. RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL

Vice President for Administration and Finance

VIII. RELATED POLICIES

Maryland Values Act, 2025 Regular Session - House Bill 1222 Chapter

 

Effective Date: October 1, 2025