I. Purpose
A. The purpose of this Interim Immigration Enforcement Response Policy (“Policy”) is to implement the provisions of Maryland HB 1222, the Maryland Values Act, with respect to immigration enforcement activities that take place on College property
II. Scope and Applicability
A. This Policy applies to Employees, Students and Visitors.
III. Definitions
A. Immigration Enforcement Activity means Federal immigration enforcement actions.
B. College Property means buildings, grounds, or property that is owned, leased, operated or controlled by the College.
C. Common Areas means cafeterias and eating spaces, hallways, unlocked classrooms not in use for a class, performing spaces, office reception areas, athletic facilities when not in use for College-sponsored athletic activities or events that are closed to the public, and other outdoor and unsecured spaces generally open to the public.
D. Employee includes all faculty, staff, temporary employees, and contractual employees.
E. Exigent Circumstances refers to emergency situations that require law enforcement to act immediately to address a threat to public safety, without pausing to obtain the prior approval from a judge that the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution would typically require. Exigent circumstances include the following: imminent risk of death, violence, or harm to a person or property; hot pursuit of a dangerous suspect; and the imminent risk of the destruction of evidence of a crime.
F. ICE Agent means a law enforcement officer of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency under the Department of Homeland Security tasked with enforcing U.S. immigration and customs laws.
G. Judicial Warrant means an arrest warrant or search and seizure warrant signed by a federal judge or magistrate.
H. Private Spaces means all classrooms when classes are in session, all offices and office suites and other areas that are designated by signage as Private Spaces, and excludes Common Areas.
I. Student means an individual who is currently enrolled in classes at the College, including credit or non-credit bearing classes and seeking credit through prior learning assessments, students who are registered for a future term, applicants for admission to the College, and individuals who have applied and been accepted to the College but have not yet registered for a term.
J. Visitor means any person who is not an Employee or Student of the College. Visitor means any person who is not an Employee or Student of the College who is on College Property.
IV. Policy
A. The College strives to provide services to Employee, Students and Visitors on College Property regardless of their immigration or citizenship status.
B. The College does not consent to the conducting of Immigration Enforcement Activities on College Property.
C. The College does not authorize any person seeking to enforce immigration laws to enter Private Spaces, except pursuant to a Judicial Warrant or where Exigent Circumstances require such access.
D. The Board of Trustees authorizes the President, or their designee, to develop and establish appropriate procedures to implement and enforce this policy.
Policy Title: Interim Immigration Enforcement Response Policy
Policy Category: General
Policy Owner: President
Policy Administrator: Chief of Police/Director of Public Safety
Contact Information: aaccpolice@aacc.edu; 410-777-2440
Approval Date: September 22, 2025
History: N/A
Applies to: Employees, Students and Visitors
Related Policies: N/A
Related Procedures: Interim Immigration Enforcement Procedure
Forms/Guidelines: N/A
Relevant Laws: