After federal immigration official Tom Homan announced a significant drawdown of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota — including the departure of more than 1,000 federal immigration agents by Feb. 15 — many were left wondering what’s next for their communities.
At St. Olaf College, the shift comes as students settle into the spring semester — attending classes and studying for exams — while still carrying questions that surfaced during January’s heightened enforcement activity.
While visible activity may decrease, college leaders say resources and advocacy efforts remain in place. Here’s what to know.
How do I stay prepared in case I encounter ICE?
For non-U.S. citizens in lawful nonimmigrant status — including F-1, J-1, or H-1B visas — federal law requires that proof of legal status be carried at all times. The College recommends students carry a valid, unexpired passport or REAL ID driver’s license, along with an I-94 record, according to a November email from General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources Carl Crosby Lehmann.
Importantly, Minnesota does not have a stop-and-identify statute. This means individuals are not required to identify themselves to police officers if they are simply walking or standing in public, unless the officer has reasonable suspicion that the person is involved in a crime.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) advises that individuals remain calm if they encounter immigration authorities. Individuals should not run, argue, or resist officers, even if they believe their rights are being violated. They should keep their hands visible at all times.
While federal law requires noncitizens to present immigration documents if asked and if the documents are available, students have the right to remain silent and are not obligated to discuss immigration or citizenship status with immigration agents.
If an agent requests to search a person or their belongings, students have the right to refuse consent; searches may not occur without consent or probable cause.
In an emergency involving immigration authorities, students are encouraged to contact St. Olaf Public Safety at 507-786-3666 immediately. Public Safety can then reach the appropriate dean and administrative staff to provide support.
For more information about interacting with ICE agents and understanding the rights of citizens and noncitizens, see:
- How to find your local ACLU affiliate
- ACLU Video: What to do if stopped?
- Immigration Law Center of Minnesota
- Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid – Know Your Rights
What campus procedures are in place?
As a private institution, the college does not automatically grant federal agents entry into non-public spaces such as residence halls, classrooms, or private offices without a valid judicial warrant or explicit consent from college administration.
Federal agents may still freely access public areas, such as the Quad and sidewalks, without a warrant.
Public Safety and a small group of designated senior administrators are the only individuals authorized to respond to outside law enforcement requests, a measure intended to prevent students or faculty from navigating legal questions themselves, according to Director of Public Safety Jeff Favreau.
“I want people to know that you don’t have to have this weight on your shoulders of, like, ‘oh, what happens if I get presented with this warrant?’” Favreau said in an interview with The Olaf Messenger. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
As well, if there is a report of ICE activity, the Ole alert system is in place.
“We’re going to try and give you as much information as you can possibly have, or we can give you at that moment,” Favreau said.
Student education records are also protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which limits the disclosure of personally identifiable information without consent or a court order.
Coordination continues with Carleton College and the Northfield Police Department.
What campus resources are available?
Community and Belonging
The Taylor Center provides resources and support to foster inclusion and belonging on campus. According to communications sent to students and faculty, Taylor Center staff have been in consistent contact with international students, working to track all policy changes that would affect their status.
The Olaf Messenger reached out to the Taylor Center for an interview to learn more about these communications, but did not receive a response.
If an international student has any questions or concerns, they can reach out to the Taylor Center for information.
The Campus Ministry Team also serves as a confidential resource to all students and can provide pastoral care to students of any or no faith.
The Boe Chapel sanctuary and the Meditation Room on the lower level are also available both during the day and in the evening for individual prayer or reflection.
Mental health support
Andrea M. Marshall, Program Director of Wellness and Health Promotions at the St. Olaf College Wellness Center, emphasized that students do not need to wait until they are in crisis to seek help.
“It’s really easy to isolate. It’s easy to get online and just absorb yourself,” she said. “And those are the opposite things of what would be helpful.”
The Wellness Center offers free, one-on-one, walk-in support and scheduled support sessions from Wellness Center Peer Educators, who are trained on evidence-based mental, social, and emotional health strategies.
In addition to this, the St. Olaf Counseling Center offers individual counseling, group counseling, and consultations — also at no cost to students.
Students also have access to free, 24/7 confidential counseling through TimelyCare, whose “TalkNow” feature allows students to connect with a counselor at any time through the app.
Student Government Association (SGA)
Student Government Association (SGA) leaders are also actively engaging students to ensure transparency.
In recent weeks, Student Government Association President Fiona Mundy and Vice President Karen Henriquez Fajardo have coordinated to expand mutual aid efforts and met directly with the President’s Leadership Team (PLT) to address the campus’s response.
Last semester, members of the executive team began tabling weekly to hear directly from students.
This semester, SGA expanded the effort. The Student Senate now tables on Mondays, while the executive team continues on Wednesdays.
During these sessions, SGA sets out whiteboards and sticky notes for students to share concerns, ideas and policy suggestions. Right now, leaders say they are especially looking for input beyond recurring campus concerns.
“We’re looking for comments about current events and what that might look like going forward for the college,” Henriquez Fajardo said. “Because this isn’t just going to affect this semester. It’s going to go into the summer, when international students are here, and it’s going to go until next year and the year after.”
Now, SGA is developing a secure internal mutual aid system for students who do not feel safe leaving campus. The form, built through Qualtrics for added security, will allow students to request groceries, prescription pickups or rides. A small team will review submissions and connect them with volunteers. They are currently recruiting volunteers for this project.
SGA also publishes detailed Senate minutes online and shares weekly updates through the “Ole The Lion” newsletter. Meetings are held on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Valhalla Room in Buntrock and include time for public comment at the beginning of each session.
How do I stay informed?
The Buntrock Institute for Freedom and Community and the Svoboda Center for Civic Engagement will convene college officials, law enforcement leaders, and community advocates for discussions on local response. Both events will take place in Viking Theater and are open to all members of the St. Olaf community.
The first panel, scheduled for Feb. 19 at 3:45 p.m., will focus on institutional procedures and coordination between campus and local law enforcement. Attendees must register in advance.
Panelists will include St. Olaf Public Safety Director Jeff Favreau, St. Olaf Vice President of Human Resources and General Counsel Carl Crosby Lehmann ’91, and Northfield Police Chief Jeff Schroepfer. According to event details, the conversation will provide insight into how the college and the city respond to immigration enforcement activity and what protocols are in place.
The second panel will be held Monday, Feb. 23, at 3:30 p.m. and will broaden the discussion to include advocacy and community support.
Speakers include Hwa Jeong Kim, who also serves as executive director of Minnesota Voice, Joe Moravchik, an instructor in policing ethics and tactics at the Minneapolis and St. Paul police academies, and Anika Rychner of the Northfield Community Action Center.
In addition to attending the panels, students can stay informed through other forms of campus communication, such as:
- The Weekly Rundown
- Ole the Lion, the weekly newsletter from The Pause, Programming Board, and SGA
- Public Safety email alerts
- Senate meetings and the SGA Instagram (@stolafsga).
- Students can also follow coverage and resource updates through The Olaf Messenger website and Instagram (@theolafmessenger).
Free and reliable news sources that have reported on ICE activities in recent weeks include:
- The Star Tribune (accessible via the St. Olaf library)
- Pioneer Press
- Sahan Journal
- The Minnesota Reformer
- KYMN Radio
Subscriptions to The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post are additionally available via the St. Olaf library.
