President Donald Trump’s vows for mass deportation and expansion of immigration law enforcement powers have generated hundreds of arrests across the country and fear among some Bostonians who are worried about expansive ICE raids. 

At Emerson, the college says it is working to combat these fears. The Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) is hosting a series of workshops with immigration attorneys that aim to educate international students on changes to immigration statuses the federal government may make over Trump’s second term.

Traditionally, the college has encouraged DACA and undocumented individuals to enroll regardless of status. The admissions office resource page has been updated with a message asking prospective students who are undocumented to contact the office for more information. 

According to a written statement provided by college spokesperson Michelle Gaseau, “Absent an emergency, external law enforcement agencies are not permitted to access non-public areas of private campuses without permission, a judicial warrant, or a court order,” meaning any law enforcement agency would have to gain the approval of ECPD to enter the college campus. 

This policy is aligned with the college’s approach to responding to third-party and law enforcement information requests. 

Gaseau also said the college is working to create more resources for community members who are affected by new changes to laws and policies. She added that anyone who seeks assistance or guidance should refer to OISA. 

The Trump administration announced Friday that it would extend “expedited removal” nationwide, according to the Associated Press. This means individuals who entered the U.S. without documents in the last two years can be deported without going through the traditional court-hearing process. 

The statement came after videos circulated online throughout the week appeared to show federal agents conducting arrests in East Boston and Chelsea. Other arrests were made in cities across the country, including in New York and San Francisco.

At Emerson, students expressed concerns about what Trump’s immigration policies mean for foreign and international students. Some are worried about their Option Practical Training, a temporary employment allowance related to the F-1 student visa, while others are worried about travel restrictions and potential deportations. 

“We might see another travel ban,” immigration attorney Mary Walsh said at a Jan. 24 OISA workshop. “Anyone in the U.S. who is a citizen of those countries [on the travel-ban list] does not have to leave the country, but it means they won’t be able to re-enter.” 

Walsh said that schools were traditionally considered “sensitive locations” and could refuse federal agents from conducting searches and arrests on campus. However, hours after Trump’s inauguration, his administration revoked that policy and announced federal agents could raid schools, public universities, and places of worship. Walsh said she thinks ICE will probably go through university campuses across the country in the near future. 

“But if they will come … they are probably looking for very specific individuals,” she said. “I don’t want people to panic that [ICE] will look for every foreign national,” Walsh said. 

Walsh recommended that students are prepared in case federal agents approach them. 

“You can always carry a copy of your I-20, visa, and passport,” she said. “It’s also important to know your rights.” 

Walsh said students can carry a “know your rights” card, available on the ACLU’s website. 

The Trump administration said it would only detain and deport undocumented individuals with criminal backgrounds. The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X that federal agents arrested “538 illegal immigrant criminals” across the U.S. It is unclear how many of those arrested have a criminal record. 

Governor Maura Healey said Thursday that the arrests were not raids. “What it seems to be is what we expected and what I support, which is the apprehension of criminals in our communities,” she said. 

Earlier this week, Healey also said that Massachusetts is “not a sanctuary state,” in a press conference.

This statement came after Trump’s acting deputy attorney general, Emil Bove, wrote in a memo that the government would investigate state and local officials who fail to cooperate with federal immigration agents, according to Reuters. 

Some international students at the OISA workshop asked about their ability to protest on campus after Trump threatened to deport those involved in protests. 

“If you are thinking about engaging in protest, you need to know they can have severe consequences on your immigration process,” Walsh said. 

Walsh said that a criminal record can hinder future visa, green card, and citizenship applications. 

“You may be intending to go to a peaceful protest and that’s great, but things can get out of control,” she said. “You need to show good moral character and this may go against that.” 

Walsh added that students can engage in activism without putting themselves at risk. 

“There are so many nonprofits that do great things behind the scenes … you can affect change that way instead of putting yourself in a situation that you can’t control if it escalates,” she said. “It’s important to be prepared.”

Emerson’s SJC offers additional resources for students, staff, and faculty who may be affected by the policy change, including DACA, DREAMers, undocumented individuals, and those who are under a Temporary Protected Status. 

SJC’s website also highlights basic rights that everyone in the U.S. is entitled to regardless of their citizenship status. 

Basic rights include: 

The right to remain silent. A person can refuse to answer any questions, including questions about where they were born or how they entered the U.S. 

The right to refuse to open a door. ICE and other federal agents must have a warrant signed by a judge to enter a person’s home. 

The right to a counselor/immigration lawyer. The National Immigration Law Center recommends that people do not answer questions or sign anything without the presence of a lawyer. The organization has a list of low-cost or free legal services.