Updated March 11, 2026
An update regarding concerns about federal immigration actions and UW
The University of Washington continues to closely monitor federal immigration enforcement in our region. We know that many people have questions and concerns about the impacts on our students, faculty, staff and the lives of relatives, friends and neighbors. We’d like to take this moment to offer updates and a reminder about protocols, resources and support.
UW proudly counts students, staff and faculty from around the world as part of the Husky community. If you see yourself in these groups – your safety and well-being matters.
As of the posting of this blog, there have been zero confirmed civil immigration enforcement visits to UW campuses. Campus safety teams have worked one-on-one and with units wanting to know more about UW’s protocols. This includes sharing the reminders and protocols below, but, also, meeting to walk through scenarios to help people feel more confident in themselves in an emergency.
Supporting students, faculty and staff
The UW is dedicated to a safe learning, teaching, research and visitor environment in a diverse community that values compassion and belonging. Working together to foster a community that feels safe is essential for Huskies to thrive academically and professionally in Seattle, Bothell, Tacoma, and the UW’s various other locations.
The University maintains this commitment in compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations.
Protocol
In the event of a federal official from Immigration & Customs Enforcement or another agency appearing and requesting information or access, the University has developed guidelines for response.
Remain calm and professional. Ask for identification. Request names, agency affiliation and identification numbers. You can ask them to take a seat nearby in a public area while they wait for you to contact a campus safety officer and your supervisor or, in the case of UW Medicine locations, the Administrator On Call.
Do not accept legal documents on the University’s behalf. It’s best to wait for UW officials to arrive.
If you are questioned by someone purporting to be a federal agent, consider these responses:
- “I am not authorized to answer your questions.”
- “I am not authorized to review or accept legal documents”
- “I have been instructed to call the UW Police Department/Campus Safety Office before you proceed. Please wait while I do that.”
- “I will call my supervisor now.”
A trained officer or campus safety employee will respond to take over, determine the purpose of their visit and involve the appropriate reviewers.
Campus and facility safety contacts:
- UW Bothell Campus Safety Department: 425-352-5359
- University of Washington Police Department (Seattle campus): 911 or 206-685-8973 (these are answered by UWPD)
- UW Tacoma Campus Safety & Security: 253-692-4416
- UW Medicine clinical facilities: Please contact the Administrator On Call for your specific facility.
If your UW facility isn’t on a campus or part of UW Medicine, UWHR can coordinate training for a designated on-site supervisor.
Never answer questions regarding confidential information unless told you should do so by UWPD, your campus safety office or the Attorney General’s Office. Examples of personally identifiable information may include and are not limited to names, contact information, address, class lists, student schedules, etc. As always, ensure compliance with FERPA and HIPAA regulations. Remember, do not lie to law enforcement agents.
Never provide someone you don’t know access to a non-public area of the UW, such as a residence hall or a secure office area — this is true every day at the UW, but even more so now. Non-public areas require permission. In the case of someone who says they are a federal agent, follow the protocol and call 911 (Seattle campus) or the Campus Safety team (UW Bothell and UW Tacoma).
Questions come up about what to do if someone disregards your request to wait for University personnel to arrive. By calling 911 or Campus Safety you have done the most important thing. Do not put yourself in harm’s way. Officers will arrive to confirm the person is who they say they are and determine if they are there for a lawful reason.
Mental health support is available for UW students and employees.
Questions and Answers
No. While immigration officials cannot enter a classroom, laboratory, campus residence or private office without an appropriate warrant or judicial order, the UW cannot legally prevent federal immigration officials from coming into the public spaces of a UW campus or facility. There may also be instances when UW will be required to respond to valid criminal warrants or judicial orders.
If we confirm federal agents are or have been on or near a UW campus (about a five-block radius around campuses), we will gather information to confirm details and share information with the greater UW community as soon as practical.
Verified information will be shared via the designated blog for each campus:
- Seattle: UW Alert blog
- Bothell: Emergency blog
- Tacoma: Emergency Updates blog
The UW will verify information before sharing it, which may take a little time. Although rumors can be alarming, the UW will only share information if there’s confirmed immigration enforcement activity on or near a UW campus. False or unverified information about immigration enforcement sightings can create fear and harm, especially in immigrant communities.
While a UW Alert would not be issued due to the presence of federal agents alone, situations can develop, like civil unrest, that might require a UW Alert or a UW Advisory warning of disruption to campus operations. UW Alerts are guided by the Clery Act and are reserved for when we have reliable information about an emergency that poses an immediate potential threat to the physical health and safety and action is needed to stay safe.
Officers or campus safety team members respond to your location and campus safety leadership is informed. They then notify University leaders and the Attorney General’s Office. The officers will contact the agent and ask for identification. The officers are trained to review documents and know the difference between an administrative order and a judicial order. An administrative order is not sufficient for demands of information related to immigration enforcement.
The officers on site will work to ensure safety in the area and ensure legal requirements are followed.
If you are a UW student or employee working in a community setting, with an organization or conducting field work and you are approached by federal authorities regarding immigration enforcement, please follow these guidelines:
Agency placement
- Familiarize yourself with the agency’s protocols and safety plans. You may need to ask for the plan.
- Always be aware of your surroundings.
- When in a community agency, you must adhere to the agency’s safety plan and the safety directives given by agency staff in the event of an emergency.
- If you are present during an incident, follow agency staff directions. After the incident, please inform your UW program lead as soon as possible for their awareness.
In the field on a home visit or other time spent with a client and immigration agents are credibly rumored to be in the area
You may be working independently and will need to use your best judgement. If it looks like agents are working nearby:
- Assess the situation as best you can.
- Make the best decision you have available for getting to a safe place. That may mean staying right where you are.
- Call someone — that could be 911. It could be a supervisor or other program contact.
- After the incident, please inform your UW program lead as soon as possible for their awareness.
In the field on a home visit, transport or other time spent with a client and immigration agents approach the home or vehicle
- Assess the situation as best you can.
- Follow the directives of the federal agents and law enforcement.
- Call someone — that could be 911. It could be a supervisor or other program contact.
- After the incident, please inform your UW program lead as soon as possible for their awareness.
No. The UW Police Department in Seattle, UW Tacoma Campus Safety & Security and UW Bothell Campus Safety do not enforce and facilitate federal immigration laws, but neither can they impede legal federal actions. Our focus remains on public safety, fostering trust and maintaining strong relationships across the University community.
Also, Washington state law prohibits the sharing of information or use of state resources, including University resources, to target Washington residents solely on the basis of race, religion, immigration or citizenship status, or national or ethnic origin, except when otherwise complying with federal or state law.
UW campuses and other locations have a mix of public and non-public spaces. Any space the general public would not be able to freely enter is a non-public space.
Some members of the UW community have asked about the need for signs in buildings to make clear what space is public and what space is only for use by UW students, faculty and staff.
Building coordinators and unit leaders can add signs if that makes sense for your area, but it’s not required. The public safety teams for your campus can walk through with building coordinators and unit leaders to confirm public versus non-public, special use areas and provide the appropriate signage.
As a reminder, immigration officials cannot enter a classroom in use for instruction, a laboratory, campus residence or private office without an appropriate warrant or judicial order. A classroom in use is not a public space. At the same time, the UW cannot legally prevent federal immigration officials from coming into the public spaces of a UW campus or facility.
UWHR has published a website with resources related to the many federal policy changes that may impact our workplace.
The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has guidance about your rights during civil immigration enforcement.