Guidance on Federal Regulations and Executive Orders

If government agents are present in academic and administrative spaces on campus, the appropriate response from faculty, staff, and students is:

1. Notify RISD authorities: Immediately contact Public Safety (pubsafe@risd.edu, 401-454-6666). Provide a clear description of the agents’ presence and actions. Do not accept service of any subpoena/warrant before contacting General Counsel (risdlegal@risd.edu; 401-277-4955).
2. Document the situation: If it is safe to do so, document the date, time and details of the interaction. If possible, record video or audio of the exchange while maintaining discretion and ensuring your safety.
3. Do not interfere: While you have the right to document and report the incident, for your own safety, do not physically obstruct or interfere with the actions of government agents.

In this situation, a student should immediately contact Public Safety (pubsafe@risd.edu, 401-454-6666). A residence hall room is considered a limited access area and cannot be legally accessed by immigration enforcement officers without a valid criminal warrant or the voluntary consent of the occupant.

A student need not allow entry to any law enforcement officer who is not in possession of a valid criminal warrant, regardless of what that officer might say. While you have the right to document and report the incident, for your own safety, do not physically obstruct or interfere with the actions of ICE agents. Additional community resources, including what to do if ICE comes to your home, is available at ACLU Rhode Island. 

Government agents may represent the following agencies:

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
• U.S. Department of Labor
• Homeland Security Investigations
• Local or state law enforcement

• I-9 audit/inspection
• Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) compliance

• Public Safety is responsible for interactions with government officials once they are notified.
• RISD community members are neither expected nor authorized to respond to any agency officials on behalf of RISD or any of its students. Community members should direct all inquiries regarding the presence of an agency official to Public Safety. 

• Provide false or misleading information
• Falsely deny the presence of faculty, staff, or students
• Hide faculty, staff, or students
• Assist faculty, staff, or students in leaving RISD premises

• How many agents are present (in and outside the building)?
• How are the agents dressed?
• Are the agents armed?
• Has the agent made you or anyone else present believe that you and/or they are unable to leave?
• Has the agent mistreated anyone? If yes, how?
• If the agents arrest anyone, ask the agent where they are being taken.

• You have the right to remain silent. As such, you may choose whether or not to talk to agency officials.
• You have the right to speak to an attorney. If you are arrested by the police, you have the right to a government-appointed lawyer. If you are detained by ICE, you have the right to consult with a lawyer, but the government is not required to provide one for you. 

• Copy of most recent/current: I-94; DS-2019 (J-1)
• Passport (copy acceptable) or state-issued ID/license
• If applicable: Employment Authorization Document; Permanent Resident Card; approval notice 

For off-campus questions regarding ICE, there are community resources available from sources like ACLU Rhode Island. You may contact General Counsel, International Student and Scholar Affairs and Human Resources for a list of legal referrals. However, if community members seek outside legal counsel, they should use their own due diligence to properly vet such counsel. RISD cannot provide legal advice or representation to individuals in connection with personal matters.

Additional community resources, including what to do if ICE comes to your home, is available at ACLU Rhode Island. 

Visa revocation refers to the cancellation of a previously issued visa (in a passport) used to request entry or reentry into the United States. Under the current administration, students’ F-1 status in the US (as reflected in SEVIS—the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is also being terminated in connection with the visa revocation. SEVIS record termination implies that an F-1 or J-1 student or scholar loses legal status to remain in the US, which may result in students leaving the country or requiring legal assistance to protect themselves from enforcement actions.

Visas are being revoked at the discretion of the government for different reasons. Students should seek immigration counsel if they want to consider reapplying.

A visa revocation should be communicated to the visa holder via email or letter from the consular post/Department of State. Student and scholar visa holders should make sure to regularly check their email, particularly the account used for the DS-160 or visa process, for any consular notifications, and notify International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) immediately to verify legitimacy.

In addition, ISSA regularly monitors SEVIS records for new F-1 or J-1 terminations. Please note that all individuals who have been impacted to this date have already been informed and connected to resources. If we see continued SEVIS terminations, we will notify impacted individuals as soon as possible to ensure that they, too, are connected to resources and, if necessary, external immigration counsel.

RISD does not know the extent of the impact.

RISD encourages students to seek advice and counsel from an immigration attorney. RISD cannot advise on any timeline or actions.

As indicated in President Williams’ community message on international travel, RISD encourages community members to seriously consider, revise, or postpone travel plans that will require reentry into the US. In particular, international students, staff, and faculty, including US visa holders and permanent residents (“green card holders”), are encouraged to reconsider or postpone travel outside the US during these challenging times.

At this time, we anticipate visa applicants may face more rigorous vetting, which could result in longer processing times including administrative processing delays by the US State Department. Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT extension applications may require longer times for review by and authorization from the US government. F-1 visa holders should apply as early as possible.

Questions regarding student visas may be directed to International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) at issa@risd.edu. F-1 and J-1 visa holders may request an advising appointment via email at issa@risd.edu or attend advising hours (see ISSA on the student hub for sign-ups and times).

RISD is closely monitoring the situation for its impact on faculty, including visa status. Given the changing legal landscape around immigration, visa applicants may face more rigorous vetting, which may result in longer processing times, including due to administrative processing delays by the US State Department.

Under certain conditions, RISD sponsors employees through immigration visas, primarily faculty. We anticipate visa applicants may face more rigorous vetting, which could result in longer processing times including administrative processing delays by the US State Department. Anyone who is applying for a new visa, applying for an extension for continued work authorization , or has questions about the status of or how to navigate the process, should contact Alison Douglas, senior human resources partner, at adouglas@risd.edu. 

Employees, both faculty and staff, should email Alison Douglas in Human Resources, or the general Human Resources inbox.

Students who hold F-1 or J-1 visas may request an advising appointment with International Student and Scholar Affairs by emailing issa@risd.edu, or attend advising hours.

You may refer inquiries about sex-based discrimination and Title IX to RISD’s Title IX coordinator and/or the US Department of Education. You may reach RISD’s Title IX coordinator by contacting Emily Gleason at egleason@risd.edu or 401 454-6341; visiting 20 Washington Place, room 346; or by submitting an online reporting form. 

Refer inquiries about all other forms of discrimination to RISD’s Title VI, Title VII, and ADA/504 coordinator, the US Department of Education, and/or the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. For RISD’s Title VI, Title VII, and ADA/504 coordinator, contact Alyssa Roush by emailing aroush@risd.edu or 401 454-6386, visiting 20 Washington Place, room 348, or submitting an online reporting form. 

Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking. RISD will continue to prohibit sex-based and gender-based misconduct in accordance with the federal law.

Yes. RISD is committed to protecting its community members, including those who may feel discriminated against based on their sex and/or gender identity. Although the Office of Civil Rights, which is responsible for enforcing Title IX within the Department of Education, does not recognize gender identity or gender expression as a legally recognizable basis for discrimination, RISD policy does prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, or gender expression. RISD will promptly respond to reports and hold community members responsible for discrimination or harassment based on these characteristics.

As a nonprofit, private institution that receives federal funding, RISD must and will follow the laws that govern nondiscrimination, including but not limited to Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Accordingly, please see RISD’s most current nondiscrimination policy and procedures.

If you have any questions regarding Title VI, VII, IX and/or the nondiscrimination policy and procedures, please contact Equity & Compliance.

Faculty and staff should continue working on grant-funded projects. When feasible and within the objectives and regulations of the grant, principal investigators (PIs) should expend their funding expeditiously. Invoice expenses as soon as possible. PIs should familiarize themselves with contestable topics related to White House executive orders and, if feasible, rephrase how or what they emphasize in describing their work. Review your award documents to assess any vulnerabilities in relation to the executive orders.

Please contact the Research office if you have questions.

The impact of tariffs on the economy, along with immigrant and international directives, may result in caution and freezes in hiring of students and graduates for internships and jobs. Negative economic outcomes may present challenges in the search for opportunities, both domestically and internationally.

Students and alumni with questions about career opportunities may book an advising appointment using the ArtWorks platform.

referral list of immigration assistance for faculty, staff, and students

Community resources are also available from sources like ACLU Rhode Island.

You may contact General Counsel, International Student and Scholar Affairs, and Human Resources for more information. If community members seek external resources, including legal counsel, we encourage that they use their own due diligence to properly vet such resources. RISD cannot provide legal advice or representation to individuals in connection with personal matters.

Student Life staff can support you with anything you may need, and through Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) you can access mental health support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling 401 454-6637.

Students who experience an emergency, such as, but not limited to, food or housing insecurity, can apply for emergency funding.

If you are concerned about a student’s wellbeing, let them know help is available. Make a CARE Network referral.

Employees who need personal support may contact Coastline EAP, our employee assistance provider at 800-445-1195 for 24/7 confidential counseling and referral/resource services.