Police Services

Immigration Assistance

We are committed to the equal application of the law without regard to anyone’s immigration status or citizenship.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a global campus. We think it’s critical that we are open with you about how we approach law enforcement issues involving immigration.

Policies and practices

The University of Illinois Police Department does not inquire about anyone’s immigration status, nor do we enforce federal immigration laws. We do not hold any person solely on the basis of a federal immigration detainer. We do not work with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unless we are legally obligated to do so after being presented with a criminal warrant signed by a judge.

Illinois Way Forward Act

The Way Forward Act, signed into law by Governor Pritzker on August 2, 2021, amended the Illinois TRUST Act and the Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Survivors (“VOICES”) Act and added additional requirements and protections for immigrant communities.

The TRUST Act helps bolster community trust and cooperation by affirming that Illinois law enforcement agencies are largely prohibited from participating in immigration enforcement.

The TRUST Act states that a “law enforcement agency or official may not participate, support, or assist in any capacity with an immigration agent’s enforcement operations.” It further specifies that local law enforcement:

  • May not transfer any person into an immigration agent’s custody;
  • May not give any immigration agent access, including by telephone, to any individual who is in the law enforcement agency’s custody;
  • May not permit immigration agents’ use of local law enforcement facilities or equipment, including the use of electronic databases not available to the public, for any investigative or immigration enforcement purpose; and
  • May not otherwise help federal agents conduct civil immigration enforcement operations.

The VOICES Act mandates that Illinois law enforcement agencies must follow specific procedures to support immigrants victimized by violent crime or human trafficking who help law enforcement investigate or prosecute criminal activity.

Assistance for victims and witnesses

University Police can assist crime victims or witnesses in obtaining temporary immigration visas. A University Police Detective can complete the law enforcement certification or declaration for a U or T visa depending on the situation:

  • U visas are available to victims of qualifying crimes to provide employment authorization and more stability while they work with law enforcement. More information about U visas is available on the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services website.
  • T visas are available to victims of human trafficking and allows them to stay in the United States for up to four years while being authorized for employment and certain federal and state benefits and services. More information about T visas is available on the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services website.

If you believe you may be eligible for either of these visas, contact us and ask to speak with a University Police detective about your situation. In these situations, it is likely that you will already have been in contact with a police detective who can help you initiate the application process.

For additional information about immigration, visit the university’s Federal Updates page.