On Friday, April 18, a slew of misinformation flooded discussion boards over the popular messaging service Discord, among other platforms, creating panic among many of RIT’s 17,000 main campus students.
Over a dozen online forums, or “servers”, posted announcements warning students of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. The largest of these servers hosts over 5,000 users consisting of students and alumni.
Warnings of alleged ICE operations and related discussion continued for hours, but no photo evidence was provided.
Kaladin Starks, a fifth-year student, and a small group of others tried to confirm the sightings throughout the day but were unable to verify any.
Starks spoke on the climate of fear and confusion that’s been created in recent months: “I’m chatting with someone every day about how people aren’t getting due process, and [ICE isn’t] looking at papers, or they’re taking people’s papers…there’s an exhaustion in our community.”
RIT’s University Communications Office later confirmed rumors of ICE vehicle presence were unfounded, and there is no evidence to suggest federal law enforcement was present.
Starks is not an international student but has several friends with student visa status.
“The idea of my friends just being kicked out of the country is so upsetting,” Starks said.
Incidents such as these are becoming more common on campuses nationwide. In February, Temple University in Philadelphia experienced a similar panic after two students allegedly impersonated ICE agents on campus.
Can ICE legally operate at RIT? It’s complicated. According to a report from The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, ICE can operate in public spaces, which includes most of RIT’s outdoor areas, nearby streets and unlocked buildings during business hours.
However, federal agents are required to produce warrants in “nonpublic spaces,” which includes academic buildings, dormitories and apartment complexes.
On Wednesday, April 23, it was reported that several RIT students had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) registration terminated, and in at least one case a student’s visa was revoked.
The scope of these recent changes with respect to law enforcement activity remains to be seen.
