Audience: HR Partners and HR Representatives

Dear colleagues,

I am sharing guidance to help you and your teams navigate situations where government enforcement agents, including immigration enforcement officers and Office of Inspector General agents, request access to University information/records or non-public areas (including, without limitation, areas restricted by key card, locked doors or monitored entryways, private offices, residence halls, classrooms while classes are in session, locker rooms, laboratories, kitchens and food preparation areas, maintenance areas, or storage facilities). While we currently are not aware of any such requests or planned visits to campus, it is good to be equipped with this guidance.

If a government representative requests access to non-public areas, information, and/or records, please ensure your teams follow these key steps:

Do:

1. Do remain courteous and inform the government agent that you need to obtain instructions for responding to the request. You might say, “The University representatives who can assist you are on the way.”

2. Do invite them to wait in a public area while you contact the University representatives listed below who can assist them.

3. Do call UMPD at (301) 405-3555 and explain the situation. Provide the name of the agent, the name of the agency, and any other information you have about the purpose of the request or visit.

4. Do call the Office of General Counsel at (301) 405-4945 and provide the same information.

Don’t:

1. Don’t disclose personal or sensitive information including, without limitation, names, addresses, or immigration status without first contacting the Office of General Counsel and obtaining authorization. The Office of General Counsel will advise on the information that can be released.

2. Don’t invite them into non-public areas of the University, including, without limitation, offices, residence halls, or classrooms.

3. Don’t do or say anything that could be construed as an unwillingness to cooperate.

Please share this information with your teams, especially those in customer-facing roles, to ensure they are prepared to respond appropriately.

If you have any questions, please email hrconsult@umd.edu or call 301-405-5304.

In collaboration,

Rythee Lambert-Jones
Assistant Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
She/Her/Hers