ICE is Here<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nRecently, ICE has become more and more active in our community, specifically in Hardin Valley. On January 13, ICE conducted a raid at a construction site within one mile of both Hardin Valley Middle and High School, and our very own campus. During this raid, workers ran into the woods behind the construction site in an attempt to escape being detained, while ICE agents followed into the woods after them. Based on local reporting<\/a>, it is unclear how many people were detained that day; however, two contractors were charged with<\/a> \u201cconspiring to disrupt Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/badge.jpg\")
ICE Badge | Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTennessee is the \u2018Model State\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhite House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller has partnered with Tennessee Republicans to develop legislation that will serve as a \u201cmodel for the rest of the nation,<\/a>\u201d with the goal of the state becoming a template that other states could follow. Within this legislation, there are many bills being proposed that impede upon constitutional rights, specifically the Equal Protection Clause under the 14th Amendment. The bill that is most relevant to students requires Tennessee schools to verify the immigration status of students, backed by another bill that supports the denial of enrollment if K-12 students fail to produce proof of their citizenship. <\/p>\n\n\n\nKCS\u2019s Stance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn response to recent ICE activity, many parents are concerned for their children\u2019s safety while attending public schools. A Knox County School spokesperson said, \u201cIn accordance with state and federal law, we do not maintain records on the immigration status of students<\/a>.\u201d KCS Superintendent, Dr. Jon Rysewyk, claims that they will follow the law and comply with officers while verifying legal documentation before law enforcement enters the classroom. Rysewyk claims that ICE has not asked to enter any KCS classroom, yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWith emerging legislation and ICE raids being conducted so close to campus, many of us are asking the same question: What happens if ICE comes to Pellissippi? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Can Faculty Do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFaculty can legally lock their classroom door, but if a law enforcement officer asks to enter and shows their badge, they are asked to comply with their orders. Since classrooms are considered private spaces, ICE agents must have proper documentation, including a signed warrant by a judge. The college has directed faculty to call campus police if they do see ICE activity on campus or if a law enforcement officer is asking to enter the classroom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the most recent Faculty Senate meeting on Wednesday, January 28, Campus Chief of Police Terry Crowe answered a multitude of questions pertaining to immigration policy on campus. When asked if he would be protecting ICE or protecting students and faculty, Chief Crowe responded with, \u201cMy goal is to protect everybody. Everybody gets protected in the process. If there is a legal process taking place, then I have to, if I have the paperwork, allow that process to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chief Crowe mentioned that, in the past, he has been in contact with local law enforcement relating to both criminal activity near campus as well as situations involving campus. Despite this, Crowe was not informed by local or federal law enforcement that previous ICE raids would be taking place within a mile of the Pellissippi State Hardin Valley campus. To the contrary, Crowe states that, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have no indications that Immigration and Customs [Enforcement] have plans to be on campus. I don\u2019t anticipate that happening. I do think if it were to get to that point, I would be informed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We attempted to get a follow-up interview with Chief Crowe after last year\u2019s story, \u201cHere for a Better Life\u201d: Pellissippi State Students Express Concern for their International and Immigrant Peers,\u201d<\/a> but he stated that his “[G]uidance to our employees and students is the same.”<\/p>\n\n\n\nFERPA Protects Students<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student records<\/a>, meaning that faculty are not required to provide any information regarding their students to law enforcement officers. Even though faculty members don\u2019t have access to the immigration status of their students, if they were to have this information, FERPA is in place to protect students from their private information being shared. Furthermore, both classrooms and offices are considered private spaces. In the circumstance that a law enforcement officer disrupts a classroom and claims that it is their First Amendment right to do so, faculty members are not legally required to provide any information about their students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cA classroom, in my opinion, is not a public space,” Chief Crowe says. “A classroom is where academic activities are taking priority over anything else. I am very cautious of our officers even coming into a classroom. We try to avoid that at all costs\u2026 But if someone were to come into that class and disrupt it, and say that that was their First Amendment right to disrupt the class, that is not the case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"On](\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ICE2.jpg\")
An ICE officer oversees an immigration enforcement operation. | Wikimedia Commons (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nConversations With Faculty<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMany faculty members are concerned for the safety of their students and are searching for ways to protect their classrooms amidst the threats of a potential ICE raid. In order to have a better understanding of how faculty members are approaching this subject, we conducted a couple of interviews. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI would fight for my students and try to help them be as safe as possible, because we don’t know if they’re safe once they’re leaving my classroom,\u201d a faculty member who spoke on the condition of anonymity said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They added that, \u201cI’ve had quite a few students mention that they’re stressed either for themselves or loved ones. And in a lot of cases, they are natural-born citizens. As a professor, I’m not really sure what to provide for them, because they’re just scared of this environment where they know they’re not protected because they’re a person of color.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked, \u201cHow do you think the college should respond to ICE if they came to campus,\u201d Assistant Professor Carlena Crase responded, saying, \u201cNot help. Not help at all. Once again, they can diffuse the situation and do what they can in order to make sure that their students are safe. That should be our priority, making sure our students are safe. And so my suggestion is to not help whatsoever, get them off of our campus as soon as possible.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt would be great in terms of Pellissippi [State] coming together as a whole, like the president, the vice president, the people who have these higher positions to acknowledge what’s happening and to showcase that they care, they will back up their faculty, their staff, and their students because then that shows that they see us,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Can Students Do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn the circumstance that ICE is present on campus, students can approach this situation similarly to an armed intruder lockdown, i.e., hiding in the classroom. Students and faculty also are legally allowed to film any law enforcement officer, but if asked to back up, they are legally required to stand 25 feet away from officers, according to SB0030.<\/a> If asked to stand back, students should make sure to turn their camera down and record their feet moving backwards, so that they have evidence of complying with orders. <\/p>\n\n\n\nVoice Your Opinion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWe have created a fully encrypted and anonymous survey<\/strong><\/a> to provide the space for you to express your feelings towards possible ICE presence on campus. Please only fill out the survey if you are a student, staff, or faculty member at Pellissippi State Community College. <\/p>\n\n\n\nKnow Your Rights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nKnowing your rights will equip you with the necessary information that will hopefully protect you if and when encountered with ICE or other law enforcement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1) The Right to Remain Silent: The 5th Amendment protects your right to remain silent, meaning you are not required to share any personal information, including your immigration status, place of birth, or criminal history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
2) The Right to be Free from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures: The 4th Amendment states that a signed warrant is required to proceed with any searches of personal items or spaces, and arrests or detainments. Make sure to say \u201cI don\u2019t consent to this search,\u201d because remaining silent is considered providing consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/rights.png\")
Know Your Rights | Anonymous<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHotline<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIf you notice any ICE activity, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) activity, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection<\/a> (CBP) presence, you can call the ICE Out Of East Tennessee (IOETN) hotline: (865)-226-9052<\/strong>. You can also DM them on social media, including Instagram and Facebook. To access the hotline easily, the number can be saved in your phone as a pseudonym. When reporting ICE activity, follow the acronym SALUTE: S<\/strong>-size\/strength, A<\/strong>-actions\/activity, L<\/strong>-location\/direction, U<\/strong>-uniform\/clothes, T<\/strong>-time and date, E<\/strong>-equipment and weapons. <\/p>\n\n\n\nResources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n1) Immigrant Legal Resource Center<\/a>:<\/strong> ILRC is an organization that has an ample amount of legal information, including both federal and local resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2) Allies of Knoxville’s Immigrant Neighbors<\/a>:<\/strong> AKIN is a local organization that works to support and learn from immigrants and refugee communities within Knoxville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tennessee is the \u2018Model State\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhite House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller has partnered with Tennessee Republicans to develop legislation that will serve as a \u201cmodel for the rest of the nation,<\/a>\u201d with the goal of the state becoming a template that other states could follow. Within this legislation, there are many bills being proposed that impede upon constitutional rights, specifically the Equal Protection Clause under the 14th Amendment. The bill that is most relevant to students requires Tennessee schools to verify the immigration status of students, backed by another bill that supports the denial of enrollment if K-12 students fail to produce proof of their citizenship. <\/p>\n\n\n\nKCS\u2019s Stance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn response to recent ICE activity, many parents are concerned for their children\u2019s safety while attending public schools. A Knox County School spokesperson said, \u201cIn accordance with state and federal law, we do not maintain records on the immigration status of students<\/a>.\u201d KCS Superintendent, Dr. Jon Rysewyk, claims that they will follow the law and comply with officers while verifying legal documentation before law enforcement enters the classroom. Rysewyk claims that ICE has not asked to enter any KCS classroom, yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWith emerging legislation and ICE raids being conducted so close to campus, many of us are asking the same question: What happens if ICE comes to Pellissippi? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Can Faculty Do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFaculty can legally lock their classroom door, but if a law enforcement officer asks to enter and shows their badge, they are asked to comply with their orders. Since classrooms are considered private spaces, ICE agents must have proper documentation, including a signed warrant by a judge. The college has directed faculty to call campus police if they do see ICE activity on campus or if a law enforcement officer is asking to enter the classroom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the most recent Faculty Senate meeting on Wednesday, January 28, Campus Chief of Police Terry Crowe answered a multitude of questions pertaining to immigration policy on campus. When asked if he would be protecting ICE or protecting students and faculty, Chief Crowe responded with, \u201cMy goal is to protect everybody. Everybody gets protected in the process. If there is a legal process taking place, then I have to, if I have the paperwork, allow that process to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chief Crowe mentioned that, in the past, he has been in contact with local law enforcement relating to both criminal activity near campus as well as situations involving campus. Despite this, Crowe was not informed by local or federal law enforcement that previous ICE raids would be taking place within a mile of the Pellissippi State Hardin Valley campus. To the contrary, Crowe states that, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have no indications that Immigration and Customs [Enforcement] have plans to be on campus. I don\u2019t anticipate that happening. I do think if it were to get to that point, I would be informed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We attempted to get a follow-up interview with Chief Crowe after last year\u2019s story, \u201cHere for a Better Life\u201d: Pellissippi State Students Express Concern for their International and Immigrant Peers,\u201d<\/a> but he stated that his “[G]uidance to our employees and students is the same.”<\/p>\n\n\n\nFERPA Protects Students<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student records<\/a>, meaning that faculty are not required to provide any information regarding their students to law enforcement officers. Even though faculty members don\u2019t have access to the immigration status of their students, if they were to have this information, FERPA is in place to protect students from their private information being shared. Furthermore, both classrooms and offices are considered private spaces. In the circumstance that a law enforcement officer disrupts a classroom and claims that it is their First Amendment right to do so, faculty members are not legally required to provide any information about their students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cA classroom, in my opinion, is not a public space,” Chief Crowe says. “A classroom is where academic activities are taking priority over anything else. I am very cautious of our officers even coming into a classroom. We try to avoid that at all costs\u2026 But if someone were to come into that class and disrupt it, and say that that was their First Amendment right to disrupt the class, that is not the case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nAn ICE officer oversees an immigration enforcement operation. | Wikimedia Commons (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nConversations With Faculty<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMany faculty members are concerned for the safety of their students and are searching for ways to protect their classrooms amidst the threats of a potential ICE raid. In order to have a better understanding of how faculty members are approaching this subject, we conducted a couple of interviews. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI would fight for my students and try to help them be as safe as possible, because we don’t know if they’re safe once they’re leaving my classroom,\u201d a faculty member who spoke on the condition of anonymity said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They added that, \u201cI’ve had quite a few students mention that they’re stressed either for themselves or loved ones. And in a lot of cases, they are natural-born citizens. As a professor, I’m not really sure what to provide for them, because they’re just scared of this environment where they know they’re not protected because they’re a person of color.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked, \u201cHow do you think the college should respond to ICE if they came to campus,\u201d Assistant Professor Carlena Crase responded, saying, \u201cNot help. Not help at all. Once again, they can diffuse the situation and do what they can in order to make sure that their students are safe. That should be our priority, making sure our students are safe. And so my suggestion is to not help whatsoever, get them off of our campus as soon as possible.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt would be great in terms of Pellissippi [State] coming together as a whole, like the president, the vice president, the people who have these higher positions to acknowledge what’s happening and to showcase that they care, they will back up their faculty, their staff, and their students because then that shows that they see us,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Can Students Do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn the circumstance that ICE is present on campus, students can approach this situation similarly to an armed intruder lockdown, i.e., hiding in the classroom. Students and faculty also are legally allowed to film any law enforcement officer, but if asked to back up, they are legally required to stand 25 feet away from officers, according to SB0030.<\/a> If asked to stand back, students should make sure to turn their camera down and record their feet moving backwards, so that they have evidence of complying with orders. <\/p>\n\n\n\nVoice Your Opinion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWe have created a fully encrypted and anonymous survey<\/strong><\/a> to provide the space for you to express your feelings towards possible ICE presence on campus. Please only fill out the survey if you are a student, staff, or faculty member at Pellissippi State Community College. <\/p>\n\n\n\nKnow Your Rights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nKnowing your rights will equip you with the necessary information that will hopefully protect you if and when encountered with ICE or other law enforcement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1) The Right to Remain Silent: The 5th Amendment protects your right to remain silent, meaning you are not required to share any personal information, including your immigration status, place of birth, or criminal history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
2) The Right to be Free from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures: The 4th Amendment states that a signed warrant is required to proceed with any searches of personal items or spaces, and arrests or detainments. Make sure to say \u201cI don\u2019t consent to this search,\u201d because remaining silent is considered providing consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\nKnow Your Rights | Anonymous<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHotline<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIf you notice any ICE activity, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) activity, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection<\/a> (CBP) presence, you can call the ICE Out Of East Tennessee (IOETN) hotline: (865)-226-9052<\/strong>. You can also DM them on social media, including Instagram and Facebook. To access the hotline easily, the number can be saved in your phone as a pseudonym. When reporting ICE activity, follow the acronym SALUTE: S<\/strong>-size\/strength, A<\/strong>-actions\/activity, L<\/strong>-location\/direction, U<\/strong>-uniform\/clothes, T<\/strong>-time and date, E<\/strong>-equipment and weapons. <\/p>\n\n\n\nResources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n1) Immigrant Legal Resource Center<\/a>:<\/strong> ILRC is an organization that has an ample amount of legal information, including both federal and local resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2) Allies of Knoxville’s Immigrant Neighbors<\/a>:<\/strong> AKIN is a local organization that works to support and learn from immigrants and refugee communities within Knoxville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
KCS\u2019s Stance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn response to recent ICE activity, many parents are concerned for their children\u2019s safety while attending public schools. A Knox County School spokesperson said, \u201cIn accordance with state and federal law, we do not maintain records on the immigration status of students<\/a>.\u201d KCS Superintendent, Dr. Jon Rysewyk, claims that they will follow the law and comply with officers while verifying legal documentation before law enforcement enters the classroom. Rysewyk claims that ICE has not asked to enter any KCS classroom, yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWith emerging legislation and ICE raids being conducted so close to campus, many of us are asking the same question: What happens if ICE comes to Pellissippi? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Can Faculty Do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFaculty can legally lock their classroom door, but if a law enforcement officer asks to enter and shows their badge, they are asked to comply with their orders. Since classrooms are considered private spaces, ICE agents must have proper documentation, including a signed warrant by a judge. The college has directed faculty to call campus police if they do see ICE activity on campus or if a law enforcement officer is asking to enter the classroom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the most recent Faculty Senate meeting on Wednesday, January 28, Campus Chief of Police Terry Crowe answered a multitude of questions pertaining to immigration policy on campus. When asked if he would be protecting ICE or protecting students and faculty, Chief Crowe responded with, \u201cMy goal is to protect everybody. Everybody gets protected in the process. If there is a legal process taking place, then I have to, if I have the paperwork, allow that process to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chief Crowe mentioned that, in the past, he has been in contact with local law enforcement relating to both criminal activity near campus as well as situations involving campus. Despite this, Crowe was not informed by local or federal law enforcement that previous ICE raids would be taking place within a mile of the Pellissippi State Hardin Valley campus. To the contrary, Crowe states that, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have no indications that Immigration and Customs [Enforcement] have plans to be on campus. I don\u2019t anticipate that happening. I do think if it were to get to that point, I would be informed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We attempted to get a follow-up interview with Chief Crowe after last year\u2019s story, \u201cHere for a Better Life\u201d: Pellissippi State Students Express Concern for their International and Immigrant Peers,\u201d<\/a> but he stated that his “[G]uidance to our employees and students is the same.”<\/p>\n\n\n\nFERPA Protects Students<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student records<\/a>, meaning that faculty are not required to provide any information regarding their students to law enforcement officers. Even though faculty members don\u2019t have access to the immigration status of their students, if they were to have this information, FERPA is in place to protect students from their private information being shared. Furthermore, both classrooms and offices are considered private spaces. In the circumstance that a law enforcement officer disrupts a classroom and claims that it is their First Amendment right to do so, faculty members are not legally required to provide any information about their students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cA classroom, in my opinion, is not a public space,” Chief Crowe says. “A classroom is where academic activities are taking priority over anything else. I am very cautious of our officers even coming into a classroom. We try to avoid that at all costs\u2026 But if someone were to come into that class and disrupt it, and say that that was their First Amendment right to disrupt the class, that is not the case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nAn ICE officer oversees an immigration enforcement operation. | Wikimedia Commons (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nConversations With Faculty<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMany faculty members are concerned for the safety of their students and are searching for ways to protect their classrooms amidst the threats of a potential ICE raid. In order to have a better understanding of how faculty members are approaching this subject, we conducted a couple of interviews. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI would fight for my students and try to help them be as safe as possible, because we don’t know if they’re safe once they’re leaving my classroom,\u201d a faculty member who spoke on the condition of anonymity said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They added that, \u201cI’ve had quite a few students mention that they’re stressed either for themselves or loved ones. And in a lot of cases, they are natural-born citizens. As a professor, I’m not really sure what to provide for them, because they’re just scared of this environment where they know they’re not protected because they’re a person of color.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked, \u201cHow do you think the college should respond to ICE if they came to campus,\u201d Assistant Professor Carlena Crase responded, saying, \u201cNot help. Not help at all. Once again, they can diffuse the situation and do what they can in order to make sure that their students are safe. That should be our priority, making sure our students are safe. And so my suggestion is to not help whatsoever, get them off of our campus as soon as possible.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt would be great in terms of Pellissippi [State] coming together as a whole, like the president, the vice president, the people who have these higher positions to acknowledge what’s happening and to showcase that they care, they will back up their faculty, their staff, and their students because then that shows that they see us,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Can Students Do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn the circumstance that ICE is present on campus, students can approach this situation similarly to an armed intruder lockdown, i.e., hiding in the classroom. Students and faculty also are legally allowed to film any law enforcement officer, but if asked to back up, they are legally required to stand 25 feet away from officers, according to SB0030.<\/a> If asked to stand back, students should make sure to turn their camera down and record their feet moving backwards, so that they have evidence of complying with orders. <\/p>\n\n\n\nVoice Your Opinion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWe have created a fully encrypted and anonymous survey<\/strong><\/a> to provide the space for you to express your feelings towards possible ICE presence on campus. Please only fill out the survey if you are a student, staff, or faculty member at Pellissippi State Community College. <\/p>\n\n\n\nKnow Your Rights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nKnowing your rights will equip you with the necessary information that will hopefully protect you if and when encountered with ICE or other law enforcement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1) The Right to Remain Silent: The 5th Amendment protects your right to remain silent, meaning you are not required to share any personal information, including your immigration status, place of birth, or criminal history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
2) The Right to be Free from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures: The 4th Amendment states that a signed warrant is required to proceed with any searches of personal items or spaces, and arrests or detainments. Make sure to say \u201cI don\u2019t consent to this search,\u201d because remaining silent is considered providing consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\nKnow Your Rights | Anonymous<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHotline<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIf you notice any ICE activity, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) activity, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection<\/a> (CBP) presence, you can call the ICE Out Of East Tennessee (IOETN) hotline: (865)-226-9052<\/strong>. You can also DM them on social media, including Instagram and Facebook. To access the hotline easily, the number can be saved in your phone as a pseudonym. When reporting ICE activity, follow the acronym SALUTE: S<\/strong>-size\/strength, A<\/strong>-actions\/activity, L<\/strong>-location\/direction, U<\/strong>-uniform\/clothes, T<\/strong>-time and date, E<\/strong>-equipment and weapons. <\/p>\n\n\n\nResources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n1) Immigrant Legal Resource Center<\/a>:<\/strong> ILRC is an organization that has an ample amount of legal information, including both federal and local resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2) Allies of Knoxville’s Immigrant Neighbors<\/a>:<\/strong> AKIN is a local organization that works to support and learn from immigrants and refugee communities within Knoxville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With emerging legislation and ICE raids being conducted so close to campus, many of us are asking the same question: What happens if ICE comes to Pellissippi? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Faculty can legally lock their classroom door, but if a law enforcement officer asks to enter and shows their badge, they are asked to comply with their orders. Since classrooms are considered private spaces, ICE agents must have proper documentation, including a signed warrant by a judge. The college has directed faculty to call campus police if they do see ICE activity on campus or if a law enforcement officer is asking to enter the classroom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the most recent Faculty Senate meeting on Wednesday, January 28, Campus Chief of Police Terry Crowe answered a multitude of questions pertaining to immigration policy on campus. When asked if he would be protecting ICE or protecting students and faculty, Chief Crowe responded with, \u201cMy goal is to protect everybody. Everybody gets protected in the process. If there is a legal process taking place, then I have to, if I have the paperwork, allow that process to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chief Crowe mentioned that, in the past, he has been in contact with local law enforcement relating to both criminal activity near campus as well as situations involving campus. Despite this, Crowe was not informed by local or federal law enforcement that previous ICE raids would be taking place within a mile of the Pellissippi State Hardin Valley campus. To the contrary, Crowe states that, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have no indications that Immigration and Customs [Enforcement] have plans to be on campus. I don\u2019t anticipate that happening. I do think if it were to get to that point, I would be informed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n We attempted to get a follow-up interview with Chief Crowe after last year\u2019s story, \u201cHere for a Better Life\u201d: Pellissippi State Students Express Concern for their International and Immigrant Peers,\u201d<\/a> but he stated that his “[G]uidance to our employees and students is the same.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student records<\/a>, meaning that faculty are not required to provide any information regarding their students to law enforcement officers. Even though faculty members don\u2019t have access to the immigration status of their students, if they were to have this information, FERPA is in place to protect students from their private information being shared. Furthermore, both classrooms and offices are considered private spaces. In the circumstance that a law enforcement officer disrupts a classroom and claims that it is their First Amendment right to do so, faculty members are not legally required to provide any information about their students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA classroom, in my opinion, is not a public space,” Chief Crowe says. “A classroom is where academic activities are taking priority over anything else. I am very cautious of our officers even coming into a classroom. We try to avoid that at all costs\u2026 But if someone were to come into that class and disrupt it, and say that that was their First Amendment right to disrupt the class, that is not the case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many faculty members are concerned for the safety of their students and are searching for ways to protect their classrooms amidst the threats of a potential ICE raid. In order to have a better understanding of how faculty members are approaching this subject, we conducted a couple of interviews. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI would fight for my students and try to help them be as safe as possible, because we don’t know if they’re safe once they’re leaving my classroom,\u201d a faculty member who spoke on the condition of anonymity said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They added that, \u201cI’ve had quite a few students mention that they’re stressed either for themselves or loved ones. And in a lot of cases, they are natural-born citizens. As a professor, I’m not really sure what to provide for them, because they’re just scared of this environment where they know they’re not protected because they’re a person of color.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked, \u201cHow do you think the college should respond to ICE if they came to campus,\u201d Assistant Professor Carlena Crase responded, saying, \u201cNot help. Not help at all. Once again, they can diffuse the situation and do what they can in order to make sure that their students are safe. That should be our priority, making sure our students are safe. And so my suggestion is to not help whatsoever, get them off of our campus as soon as possible.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt would be great in terms of Pellissippi [State] coming together as a whole, like the president, the vice president, the people who have these higher positions to acknowledge what’s happening and to showcase that they care, they will back up their faculty, their staff, and their students because then that shows that they see us,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the circumstance that ICE is present on campus, students can approach this situation similarly to an armed intruder lockdown, i.e., hiding in the classroom. Students and faculty also are legally allowed to film any law enforcement officer, but if asked to back up, they are legally required to stand 25 feet away from officers, according to SB0030.<\/a> If asked to stand back, students should make sure to turn their camera down and record their feet moving backwards, so that they have evidence of complying with orders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We have created a fully encrypted and anonymous survey<\/strong><\/a> to provide the space for you to express your feelings towards possible ICE presence on campus. Please only fill out the survey if you are a student, staff, or faculty member at Pellissippi State Community College. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing your rights will equip you with the necessary information that will hopefully protect you if and when encountered with ICE or other law enforcement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) The Right to Remain Silent: The 5th Amendment protects your right to remain silent, meaning you are not required to share any personal information, including your immigration status, place of birth, or criminal history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 2) The Right to be Free from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures: The 4th Amendment states that a signed warrant is required to proceed with any searches of personal items or spaces, and arrests or detainments. Make sure to say \u201cI don\u2019t consent to this search,\u201d because remaining silent is considered providing consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you notice any ICE activity, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) activity, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection<\/a> (CBP) presence, you can call the ICE Out Of East Tennessee (IOETN) hotline: (865)-226-9052<\/strong>. You can also DM them on social media, including Instagram and Facebook. To access the hotline easily, the number can be saved in your phone as a pseudonym. When reporting ICE activity, follow the acronym SALUTE: S<\/strong>-size\/strength, A<\/strong>-actions\/activity, L<\/strong>-location\/direction, U<\/strong>-uniform\/clothes, T<\/strong>-time and date, E<\/strong>-equipment and weapons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) Immigrant Legal Resource Center<\/a>:<\/strong> ILRC is an organization that has an ample amount of legal information, including both federal and local resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2) Allies of Knoxville’s Immigrant Neighbors<\/a>:<\/strong> AKIN is a local organization that works to support and learn from immigrants and refugee communities within Knoxville.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Can Faculty Do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FERPA Protects Students<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nConversations With Faculty<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Can Students Do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Voice Your Opinion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Know Your Rights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hotline<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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