Immigration enforcement officers will be allowed in schools after a federal policy preventing that was rescinded, raising concerns about student well-being. USF has yet to determine how it will respond.

USF spokesperson Althea Johnson said the university is monitoring and assessing the “potential impacts” of updates and executive orders at the federal level. The university will “provide updates as needed.”

The protected areas policy, established in 2021, prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection from performing enforcement actions in “protected areas,” such as schools, hospitals and churches. 

However, Trump’s administration revoked the policy on Jan. 20. 

With the removal of the policy, it remains unclear what enforcement could look like on USF’s campuses. Some experts said students should be aware of their rights.

Elizabeth Aranda, director of the Im/migrant Well-Being Research Center at USF, said the removal of the protected areas means schools are no longer a “safe” place for immigrant and undocumented students. 

The Department of Homeland Security stated “criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.” 

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Aranda said the possibility of arrests on campus creates stress and anxiety.

“If students are fearful, they might not go to class,” Aranda said. “If they are anxious, they may not be able to focus and may disengage. All of these could have mental health implications.”

The Florida Legislature passed a bill on Jan. 28 requiring state entities, including public and private institutions, to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts.

The Senate also proposed a bill banning Florida College System institutions and state universities with an acceptance rate below 85% from admitting undocumented immigrants.

USF has an acceptance rate of 41%, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Although it’s unclear how ICE visits would unfold, immigration and former ICE attorney John Gihon said enforcement actions were never “haphazard” during his six years in the agency.

He said officials could likely visit campus for a “specific purpose.”

“ICE may be there to meet with administrators or because they know someone is violating immigration laws,” Gihon said. “They might want to locate that person and perhaps question them and have them deported.” 

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He said students who are worried should talk to an immigration attorney or professional about their situation.

“Fear is usually a product of not having full knowledge of what could happen,” Gihon said. “Find out about your situation and find someone who can help you get through it.”

Michael Vastine, a professor at Stetson College of Law, said students have a Fifth Amendment right to remain silent if approached by an enforcement officer.

“They cannot and should not be arrested in the absence of a warrant,” Vastine said.

He said immigrant students also have privacy rights. 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act protects the disclosure of student records unless presented with a court order, subpoena or written approval from the student.

Despite removing the protected areas policy, Florida schools “may provide education” to students regardless of their immigration status, according to the bill analysis of the law passed on Jan. 28.

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Vastine said removing the protected areas policy “is disrupting” civil society. He said he is concerned about potential barriers to health care, religious participation and education for undocumented people. 

“Elections have consequences,” Vastine said. “I don’t expect things to get better.”

As USF works to determine its response to federal updates, Aranda said students should connect with support organizations to have a community to “lean on” during stressful times.

“Students should have the right to learn in a safe environment,” Aranda said.

Correction: An earlier version of this article had incorrect attributions for information from Michael Vastine.