New Jersey’s AFL-CIO sponsored a day long “Know Your Rights” training to assist union members in safeguarding each other from overreaching and dangerous ICE enforcement tactics. While URA-AFT has offered similar training for members previously, the day-long sessions held back-to-back Friday and Saturday March 6 and 7 reinforced importance lessons, according to President Christine O’Connell who attended the training. “It’s important to understand Rutgers management directives, which are to refer ICE agents to Rutgers Police,” said O’Connell.
To our knowledge, there has been no reports of ICE on any of our campuses to date. Yet URA members must be prepared and practice for that scenario if it comes to pass. Our local has resolved to call on university management to protect immigrant communities on and around campus.
Rutgers’ directive if ICE comes on campus remains the same. Call RUPD and tell the agents that you are not authorized to grant access to the building. Ask them to wait until RUPD officers arrive.
You are not required to give any more information. You have the right to remain silent and should maintain that right.
Here are the phone numbers to contact RUPD across Rutgers campuses:
Rutgers University–Camden: 856-225-6111
Rutgers University–Newark: 973-353-5111
Rutgers University–New Brunswick: 732-932-7211
See more from Make the Road New Jersey, which details additional scenarios if confronted by ICE at home or out in public at Know Your Rights.
