Interim Chancellor, Vice Chancellors to respond if ICE comes to campus — whoever is closest

If ICE officers appear at WSU Vancouver campus, there are four designated point persons who can handle the situation once ICE is sent to the Chancellor’s Office, assuming at least one of them is on campus or at least in Vancouver at the time. 

Recently, the VanCougar reported that the single point person to address ICE agents would be Domanic Vanthom. This has since changed, according to Sandra Haynes, Interim Chancellor of WSU Vancouver.

In the event that ICE appears on campus with a warrant for information on someone, faculty and students are asked to direct the ICE agents to the Chancellor’s office. If Haynes is on campus, she is the first person contacted to receive the warrant, and send it to the Office of the Attorney General to verify the legitimacy of the warrant.

“I am 100% committed and 100% available. I’m 100% available, and when I’m not available, I will designate someone to make sure that they get that, that they are the point of contact and everybody knows that that is the point of contact,” Haynes said.

If Haynes is not on campus, there is a chain-of-command followed for who is contacted when one person is not on campus. Haynes is at the top of this chain-of-command. If Haynes is not on campus, then after her is the Interim Chancellor of Academic Affairs Christine Portfors, then the Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations Damian Sinnott, then finally Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Domanic Vanthom.

Everyone in this chain-in-command has Hayne’s cell phone number, as well as all administration and staff. Haynes added that Jacob Windstead, President of the Associated Students of Washington State University (ASWSUV), also has her number.

Haynes said that campus police will not enforce immigration laws, nor do they act as immigration agents. There are defined “non-public spaces on campus,” such as classrooms where ICE agents are not allowed to enter.

According to Domanic Vanthom, it is not within WSU Vancouver’s legal scope to intervene in the event of an active arrest on campus. WSU Vancouver will only intervene if an ICE agent comes to campus with a judicial warrant or subpoena for information on a student.

Haynes said that every classroom has “Know Your Rights” handouts, and added that students educate themselves about their rights. She also added that there are local organizations that provide support for immigrants and their families.

“We know at this moment in time that we may not be able to eliminate the feelings of apprehension and fear, but we can help each other overcome some of these feelings by focusing on our individual agency, individual power, and our collective support of each other. I just think that’s so valuable to remember.” 

There is currently no indication that ICE will appear on campus, although ICE raids are typically a surprise and not announced ahead of time.