On Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders that affected immigration policy and declared a national emergency. These orders and the subsequent national emergency addressed birthright citizenship, visa applications and asylum.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also announced the end of two directives that formally banned the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from making arrests in “sensitive” locations such as schools and churches.
“This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens — including murderers and rapists — who have illegally come into our country,” said a DHS Spokesperson in a statement. “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.”
In response, the University of Utah leaders, including the Office of General Counsel, Government Relations and the Vice President for Research, are tracking federal policy changes, legislative actions and court rulings. They are also consulting with higher education organizations such as the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) to assess potential impacts on students, faculty and staff.
“In this rapidly evolving environment, we will update campus stakeholder groups when policy changes and their implications become clear,” university officials said in a statement.
Resources, including the Office of the Vice President for Research’s federal grant funding updates and the Office of Sponsored Projects’ Executive Actions and Federal Agency Updates, are available for those seeking information. University of Utah Health is also providing guidance to patients and healthcare providers.
The statement gives no indication that universities will be a focus of immigration enforcement. However, university officials emphasized that they expect any enforcement activity on campus to comply with “standard legal requirements,” such as presenting warrants, subpoenas or court orders.
The U reaffirmed its commitment to supporting immigrant and international students, faculty, staff and patients.
The Office of the Dean of Students can assist DACA recipients, while International Student and Scholar Services offers guidance on visas and travel. Faculty and staff are encouraged to consult with supervisors or the Office of General Counsel as needed.
University of Utah Health emphasized its commitment to patient privacy, ensuring compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Student privacy protections under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) remain in place, regardless of immigration status.
