Update on campus response to immigration enforcement activity

Dear Macalester Campus Community.

We know that the surge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Minnesota is frightening, and we recognize the disproportionate impact of these events on immigrant communities and communities of color. While there is no evidence at this time that ICE has come onto our campus, actions were observed in the neighborhood over the weekend, including at the Speedway station on Snelling Avenue. 

As I noted in my email last Friday, the senior leadership team is monitoring events closely and is in regular contact with elected officials in our city and state. We continue to offer support and encourage flexibility for students and colleagues navigating the complexities created by these ICE actions. That said, I want to remind everyone of the campus protocols we put in place last year to protect the well-being of our community. 

If you encounter any uninvited law enforcement agent on our campus, call Public Safety at 651-696-6555. Public Safety can verify officers’ identities and ask whether they have a judicial warrant. In addition, any member of our campus community can call Public Safety to request an escort to their residence hall, their car, or a nearby off-campus residence.

“Know your rights” cards have been distributed on campus and can be downloaded here. You can find additional information and resources at this Macalester website (login required).

We are taking additional steps related to campus facilities access, including marking all campus parking lots as private property and expanding 24-7 card access to all buildings except the Campus Center. The location of a US Postal Service office in the lower level of the Campus Center requires us to allow public access to the building during business hours. It is essential that all students and employees carry their college issued IDs with them at all times to gain access to campus facilities. Please do not let someone unknown to you “piggyback,” or follow you into a Macalester building. 

To address concerns some students may have about traveling to campus from the airport, we also are working on organizing some van shuttles to pick up returning students at the MSP airport on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 20 and 21, and will send details to returning students once a plan is in place. This temporary measure is meant to reduce the stress of navigating transportation to campus.

I know many in our community are involved in peaceful demonstrations and bystander actions to protect the most vulnerable among us. Standing up for your beliefs and providing care for others is important and consistent with Macalester’s values. We support social action while at the same time urge demonstrators to take prudent steps to protect their own well-being.

While we are trying to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to our campus in order to keep people safe, please know that much work is happening behind the scenes to prevent harm to the fullest extent possible. 

Onward,

Dr. Suzanne M. Rivera
President

January 13, 2026