Students and faculty share their thoughts on ICE protocol at WSUV

WSU Vancouver has no guidelines to notify the campus community in the event that immigration officials visit. Last week, Domanic Vanthom, WSU Vancouver’s Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, spoke on what the school’s protocol is if ICE comes to carry out detentions on students, staff, or faculty. 

Vanthom explained that in a scenario like this, WSUV will not interfere with ICE’s operations on publicly accessible areas on school grounds. He also stated that the administration has no plans or priority to notify the campus community of ICE’s presence on campus, which draws attention to possible safety risks.

Two WSU Vancouver students, as well as one professor, were asked about their opinions on this situation. 

WSUV student Bouman Young gave his opinion on the lack of a notification system, stating, “We need to have some sort of precautions put in place. Even though I don’t feel like I would be affected by it, I don’t want any other students affected by it.” 

Speaking further with Young, he went on to explain that on the topic of precautions, there was once a paper placed in the Tutoring Center giving phone numbers to call in the event of an immigration sweep on university grounds, but it has since been removed. 

“I remember in some of the classrooms, especially in the Tutoring Center, we had a sheet of paper that specifically said, ‘Hey, if you notice somebody that isn’t supposed to be on campus and they’re asking you about a student, to contact security.’ But that’s no longer there.” 

This differs from what Vanthom said last week. He previously stated, “Essentially, we have notices that have gone out to the community. They are in most of the classrooms, definitely [in] every building, [that describe] what to do if there is any kind of ICE officer, or other that is inquiring and where to send them, the Chancellor’s Office.”

Another student attending WSU Vancouver on a student visa wished to remain anonymous. When asked how they felt regarding immigration enforcement activity, they said, “I went through all the proper legal channels. I’m here legally, and even I still have some fears of being discriminated against or targeted because of my appearance, or accent, or something to that effect, and being interrogated against my will or harassed, just based on my background.” 

When asked how they felt regarding the absence of a notification system of any kind, they explained, “I think yes, I would like to be notified. [Because I’m thinking], you’re here legally. You shouldn’t have anything to worry about if they come, but that’s not the case. I think now, with everything happening politically [and] seeing wrongful arrests, there is concern now. Maybe they could send out an email saying, ‘We’ve been informed that ICE agents are presently on campus.’” 

Elaborating on the topic of a possible notification of immigration officials’ presence, the student noted that the wording of such a message is important, as an improperly worded notification may make it seem as though WSUV wants to interfere with ICE operations by telling students to flee. 

On the faculty side, a professor who didn’t wish to be named was asked what they felt regarding the guidelines given to them by the administration. They expressed that the extent of faculty training appears to be the same as the pieces of paper placed around WSUV and that they didn’t know enough to have an opinion on the matter. 

What this means for WSU Vancouver is that if immigration officials were to come to campus to detain individuals, students, staff, and faculty would have limited assistance. 

Official protocol, if ICE appears on WSUV’s campus, is for students, staff, or faculty to direct ICE to the Chancellor’s office. They will then contact the Attorney General’s office to verify any judicial warrant or subpoena, although this process can potentially take days. 

WSUV will not interfere with any active ICE arrests in the publicly accessible areas on campus, and currently, there is no campus-wide notification system to inform students, staff, or faculty of Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence at WSU Vancouver.