Undocumented Student and Community Immigration Resources

As a public institution, MCC welcomes and supports undocumented students.

The College also welcomes our community to campus. Access may be limited in specific areas due to privacy concerns or safety considerations. Federal immigration enforcement officers are subject to these same access restrictions and must adhere to MCC protocols when entering non-public spaces, including private offices, classrooms in use, and operational facilities.

Please note that federal officials may be on campus for reasons unrelated to enforcement, such as for job fairs or special events.

Para comunicarse con alguien en español, envíenos un correo electrónico a studentsupport@mchenry.edu

MCC adheres to HB1312 requirements about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Activity on campus:

  1. MCC has a procedure for reviewing law enforcement access requests and MCC prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of students' or employees' immigration status
  2. MCC provides Immigration and Community Resources
  3. MCC has a process for notifying the campus community when immigration enforcement occurs on campus

This information is available online, and you may request hard copies in person in Admissions and Recruitment, A260.

  • 1. Responding to Inquiries from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and/or Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

    Effective January 2025

    In response to federal executive orders and directives related to immigration enforcement, this internal procedure is meant to provide a framework for MCC employees, including frontline administrative and security personnel, to respond to inquiries regarding the immigration status of both students and employees. This is a recommended protocol for responding to inquiries from officials or entities such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as well as inquiries from students, parents, employees, and other individuals.

    All MCC employees should be notified that, if they receive any inquiries from law enforcement and/or immigration officials related to a student’s or employee’s immigration status, those inquiries should be directed to McHenry County College’s primary point of contact on this matter, Chief Tom Kretschmer, or secondary contacts, Dr. Clint Gabbard and Mr. Bob Tenuta. Employees should not respond to inquiries directly.

    A. ICE, CPB and Other Agency Requests for Interviews and Arrests

    1. Obtain Initial Information and Call MCC Point of Contact Immediately

    Upon the arrival of ICE, BCP, or other immigration officials at MCC, employees should ask for the individual’s name and agency, then ask them to have a seat so you can contact someone to speak with them.

    Note: Unless compelled by law, colleges are not required to initially permit ICE or BCP agents to enter a college campus, or related facilities to speak to or arrest students or employees.

    Employee Should Not:

    • Answer specific questions about a student or employee/contractor.
    • Confirm whether the student or employee is in attendance.
    • Release student or employee information.
    • Make the student or employee available for an interview.
    • Answer any questions or grant agents permission to enter any buildings or facilities.

    2. Involve College Administration to Contact Legal Counsel

    Once College employee obtains the initial information above, they should immediately contact Chief Tom Kretschmer, who will then come to that location, as well as facilitate contact with legal counsel. If unable to reach, employee should contact Dr. Gabbard or Mr. Tenuta. Chief Kretschmer will work with designated President’s Cabinet members and counsel on any follow-up required.

    MCC point of contact should be prepared to share the information above and copies of any identification, subpoenas, court orders, and/or warrants with legal counsel. Legal counsel may speak directly to ICE or other immigration officials or provide advice as to what personnel should say to them.

    Note: Administrative vs. Judicial Warrant

    Administrative warrants are not issued by a court. They will say “Department of Homeland Security” and potentially Form I-200, Form I-203, Form I-205, or Form I-286 at the top. Judicial warrants, or court orders, will refer to a specific court at the top and will be signed by an individual judge at the bottom.

    Colleges are not required to comply with administrative warrants in the same way they are with judicial warrants or court orders. A college is not required to comply with an administrative warrant seeking information that would identify a student or lead to the identification of a student. Colleges are, however, required to comply with a judicial warrant or court order consistent with their policies on student education records. Administrators must notify students before they release their education records.

    Ultimately, if ICE, BCP, or other immigration officials do not have a judicial warrant, legal counsel may advise that the College initially deny such immigration officials access to the facilities until it obtains such a warrant and provides a copy of the same.

    B. Inquiries from Students, Parents, Employees, and Others

    In the event a College employee(s) receives inquiries not from law enforcement or other agency officials, but from students, parents of students, employees, or others, they should also be directed to MCC’s primary point of contact, Chief Tom Kretschmer, or secondary contacts, Dr. Clint Gabbard and Mr. Bob Tenuta.

    For inquiries from students, parents, employees, and other individuals, MCC officials have appropriate talking points to generally explain the context and scope of MCC’s required cooperation with immigration officials. Legal counsel should be consulted for more complex or specific inquiries.

  • 2. Immigration and Community Resources
  • 3. MCC Process for Notifying the Campus Communities When Immigration Enforcement Occurs on Campus

    Upon receiving an official confirmation that immigration enforcement is on MCC’s Crystal Lake main campus or Catalyst Campus in Woodstock, MCC officials will provide a timely notification via email to employees and current students.