If visitors appears on campus claiming to be a government official or a law enforcement official, protocol is as follows:
- HUPD should be called immediately (617-495-1215).
- Harvard Office of General Counsel should be called immediately if a search warrant is presented (617-495-1280); they have the role of evaluating the legal grounds for the warrant.
- Visitors should be escorted to a conference room if they are already inside a building.
- HUPD should mediate all interactions with the visitors.
- If the visit is after hours, HUPD can contact OGC directly.
- General guidance on responding to law enforcement requests for access to university spaces (Harvard OGC)
Safety planning:
- Know the location of the nearest fire alarm and learn how to use it.
- Learn the location of alternative exits from all work areas, including exits through underground tunnels.
- Rachel’s office can be locked from the inside using a manual thumb-turn lock.
Legal resources:
- Guidance on entering or re-entering the U.S. (Harvard Office of General Counsel)
- Know Your Rights at the border (American Civil Liberties Union)
- Digital Privacy at the U.S. Border (Electronic Frontier Foundation)
- Know Your Rights when approached by authorities in the US under new expedited removal procedures (National Immigration Law Center)
- If you are a Harvard community member facing an immigration-related emergency, please contact our emergency hotline at 857-242-6755. Calls will be directed to on-call attorneys who can provide legal counsel and assistance on time-sensitive matters. Use this line for emergencies only.
- For non-emergency inquiries, contact the Harvard Representation initiative hri@law.harvard.edu or call our office at (617) 495-6648. The Harvard Representation Initiative offers pro-bono legal immigration consultation and representation, inclusive of social work support, to members of the Harvard community who are undocumented, DACAmented, or non-U.S. citizens who are concerned about their immigration status
- Finding an immigration lawyer - via American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
- MIRA (Massachusetts Immigrants & Refugee Advocacy Coalition) - Immigration Legal Helpline: 508-293-1871
https://harvardimmigrationclinic.org/for-clients/faqs/
https://www.hio.harvard.edu/news/travel-concerns
- Your HIO advisor, with whom you can schedule an appointment to discuss your individual circumstances and concerns
- HIO’s guidance regarding issues while traveling, including assistance for U.S. immigration-related emergencies
- Harvard Representation Initiative (HRI), for legal advocacy and legal advice regarding immigration rights
- HRI’s FAQs regarding ICE on campus and knowing your rights
- Office of the General Counsel’s guidance on U.S. border security measures
- Office of the Vice Provost for Research’s U.S. arrival travel guidance for foreign students and exchange visitors
- ACLU’s knowing your rights at the airport
Contacts:
HIO Website: This after hours emergency number (857-302-3772) must only be used for immigration and visa related emergencies that require an immediate response from the HIO when the HIO and University offices are closed. During regular office hours (Monday – Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET) or for non-emergency inquiries click here.
Have people memorize the above 2 emergency numbers/share them.