Additional Resources

Please review the email sent by the College President on October 8 for important safety information and reminders. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to email or our staff phone line at (708) 490-8474. 

Important reminders

• If you encounter law enforcement or National Guard personnel, please try to remain calm. It’s essential to follow their instructions and carry identification. Please avoid lingering near restricted zones or active security operations, as this can be a tense situation for everyone involved.
• Travel in groups whenever possible, especially after dark. There’s strength in numbers, and it can help you feel more secure.
• Stick to well-lit, populated routes, and avoid shortcuts through alleys or isolated areas. Your safety matters above all else.
• Make sure your doors are locked and secure the main entrance to your building. When entering, please refrain from swiping others into the building for everyone’s safety.
• Keep your friends or family updated on your plans and ensure your phone is charged. It’s comforting to know that someone is aware of your location.
• If you’re considering participating in demonstrations or public gatherings, please prioritize your safety. Stay aware of your surroundings, remain connected with trusted friends or colleagues, and avoid areas with escalating tensions or significant law enforcement presence. Keep informed through reputable local news and official college communications.

Notification, Coordination, and Institutional Awareness Purpose:

This policy establishes clear procedures for managing the presence of external law enforcement agencies on Lake Forest College property. It ensures appropriate institutional notification, coordination, and transparency in alignment with Illinois HB1312, campus safety best practices, and the College’s values.

Scope:

• This policy applies whenever external law enforcement agencies (local, county, state, or federal) are present on College property for:
• Enforcement actions
• Investigative activity
• Emergency response
• Administrative purposes

Exclusions:

• Routine mutual-aid emergency responses initiated through Public Safety dispatch
• Fire or medical emergencies unless accompanied by sworn law enforcement activity

Guiding Principles:

Lake Forest College is committed to:

• Maintaining campus safety while preserving community trust
• Ensuring law enforcement presence is coordinated through Public Safety
• Providing timely and appropriate notification to institutional leadership
• Complying with Illinois HB1312 and all applicable federal regulations

Law Enforcement Presence Protocol:

1). Primary Point of Contact

• All external law enforcement activity must be coordinated through the Department of Public Safety, except in exigent circumstances requiring immediate action to protect life or property.
• Public Safety serves as the central liaison between external agencies and the College.

2). Notification to the College

A. Required Notification:

When law enforcement is on campus for non-emergency enforcement or investigative purposes, Public Safety shall notify, as soon as practicable:

• Director of Public Safety
• Dean of Students (or designee)
• Vice President for Student Affairs (or designee), when student-related
• Other senior administrators as appropriate

Notification shall include, as permitted by law:

• Agency involved
• General purpose (e.g., investigation, warrant service, follow-up inquiry)
• Location(s) on campus
• Whether students, faculty, or staff are directly impacted
  
  

B. Emergency Exceptions:

In emergencies involving an immediate threat to life or safety, notification may occur after the situation is stabilized but must still be documented and communicated without undue delay.

3). Law Enforcement Access to Campus Facilities:

External law enforcement agencies shall not independently access secured campus buildings without coordination through Public Safety, unless acting under:

• A valid judicial order (e.g., warrant, subpoena)
• Exigent circumstances recognized under law

Public Safety shall:

• Verify credentials
• Document entry
• Accompany officers when appropriate and permissible

4). Student, Faculty, and Staff Considerations

Consistent with HB1312:

• The College does not permit unauthorized law enforcement activity
• Efforts will be made to minimize unnecessary disruption or intimidation
• No information will be shared beyond what is legally required
• Public Safety will not inquire into immigration status or assist in enforcement actions unrelated to campus safety unless required by law

5). Documentation and Recordkeeping

Public Safety shall document all law enforcement presence, including:

• Date and time
• Agency and officer(s) involved
• Purpose of presence (as permitted)
• Notifications made
• Outcome or disposition

Records will be retained per institutional policy and applicable law.

6). Campus Notification (When Applicable):

Campus-wide or targeted notifications (e.g., Timely Warning, Safety Advisory) will be issued only when required or appropriate, based on:

• Clery Act criteria
• Threat assessment
• Guidance from senior leadership

Routine law enforcement presence alone does not automatically trigger campus notification.

Authority and Oversight:

This policy is administered by the Department of Public Safety in coordination with the Dean of Students and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. Interpretations will be made in consultation with College Legal Counsel as needed.

Steps to take when contacted or approached by any law enforcement:

1. Remain calm, professional, and be polite.
2. State that, you “need to contact Public Safety who can answer their questions”.
3. Call Public Safety at 847-735-5555 and inform an officer you have an agent on campus.
4. Tell the agent to wait in a public space until Public Safety arrives.

Do NOT Answer questions or provide personally identifiable information about yourself or anyone else unless required by a value subpoena/warrant and told to do so by Public Safety. Examples include name, contact information, class lists, student schedules, financial information, etc.

Background for this guidance

With respect to immigration enforcement, Lake Forest College and Lake Forest College Public Safety (“Public Safety”) will follow the law.

The following provides context and guidance for Lake Forest College employees in the event that outside law enforcement officials request access to College facilities, students, or student education records.  Such officials include, but are not limited to, agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, Lake Forest Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (collectively, “law enforcement officers”).

Information Disclosure

Lake Forest College is subject to federal law governing the privacy of student information as set forth by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other applicable statutes.  Federal privacy laws (absent a health or safety emergency) generally prohibit the release of information from a student’s records to law enforcement officers except pursuant to a valid court order or subpoena, either of which must be lawfully issued as determined by Public Safety, or upon the written consent of the student. Accordingly, it is the policy of the College not to release any information about students to any third party, unless authorized under the College’s FERPA policy.

Request for Information Disclosure

If any law enforcement official, including an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, requests access to or copies of Lake Forest College student education records, the employee or department receiving this request must immediately contact Public Safety and inform them of such request. Public Safety will then review the request. When necessary, College leadership and general counsel will be engaged. The requested information will not be provided unless and until approval is received through Public Safety and associated departments, like the Registrar.

Access to College Facilities

Many areas of the College and facilities on the College’s campus are private and are not open to the public.  Non-public areas include classrooms, laboratories, the Sports and Recreation Center including exercise rooms, research areas, faculty, staff, and administrative personnel offices, conference rooms, seminar rooms, lounges, residential halls and individual rooms, or similar areas (usually behind a reception desk or closed doors) which are generally not open to the public.

Law enforcement officers, including ICE, may only obtain access to college facilities or students on campus under one of the following circumstances:

• Consent. Lake Forest College does not consent to law enforcement accessing areas that are secured and not open to the public under normal circumstances. Most College employees are NOT authorized to give consent on behalf of the College.
• Proper Warrants. Whether a warrant authorizes a law enforcement officer, including an ICE officer, to take a specific action, such as conducting a search or arrest, depends on the scope of the warrant and whether it was issues by a judge or was administratively issued. Lake Forest College, consistent with the rule of law, must honor valid judicial warrants, but it is difficult for an untrained person to determine whether a warrant has been validly issued by a judge.  Thus, it is vitally important to immediately contact Public Safety so it can be determined whether access is appropriate.
• Exigent Circumstances. In the extremely unlikely event that exigent circumstances, such as immediate risk of death or physical harm, exist or may exist, call 911.

Request to Access College Facilities

If a law enforcement official, including an ICE agent, requests access to a campus facility, building or any portion of the campus in which public access is restricted by a front desk, key or access card at the time of the request, and they are NOT accompanied by a Public Safety officer, the employee or department receiving this request must immediately contact Public Safety to inform them of such a request.  Public Safety will respond and review the request, in consultation with counsel and College leadership when appropriate. The employee or supervisor should ask the law enforcement official to wait until Public Safety arrives. Under no circumstance should the employee or department physically block or interfere with an access or enforcement action that has been approved by Public Safety.

Will the College honor a detainer request if presented by ICE?

No, we will not honor a detainer request from ICE. Public safety officers are not sworn law enforcement and are not bound by the same laws as sworn police officers. For this very reason we would involve our law enforcement partners who will make sure no laws or rights are being violated.  

What is the stance of the Lake Forest Police in the enforcement of ICE requests?

The Illinois Trust Act mandates law enforcement adhere to its guidelines, which allows law enforcement officers to exercise discretion regarding engagement with ICE matters. Therefore, the Lake Forest Police will not actively enforce or engage in ICE-related requests. (Administratively or criminally)

Since ICE typically issues administrative warrants rather than criminal ones, how will Public Safety determine if the warrant is administrative or criminal?

Public Safety will coordinate with our law enforcement partners to verify the type and validity of any warrant. They will confirm whether it is administrative or criminal and will guide us in determining the appropriate next steps.

If ICE requests access to a residence hall or other non-public areas, will Public Safety allow that?

No, Public Safety will not give access to ICE to enter dormitory halls or other non-public area.

Will Public Safety provide any information to ICE?

No, Public Safety will not provide any information to ICE unless directed to by law enforcement with appropriate documentation.

Will Public Safety notify the student if ICE inquires?

If ICE inquires, Public Safety will notify the Dean of Students and the Vice President of Campus Life to ensure that the student is informed, and proper support is provided.