Edited By: Luke Tarnosky and Karley and Sam and Lloyd Allotey and Casey Hignite
An agreement between Pensacola State College and U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement gives limited immigration enforcement authority to select PSC law enforcement officers, raising questions among students about how the policy could affect campus life.
Signed in September 2025, the agreement allows a small number of PSC police offers to be trained, certified and supervised by ICE under the federal 287(g) Task Force Model. The document outlines when and how these officers may assist ICE with immigration enforcement while also placing limits on how that authority may be used.
What Students Should Expect on Campus
- According to the agreement, the program does not authorize routine immigration checks of students, classrooms, or campus spaces. Immigration enforcement authority applies only in specific law enforcement situations and only when PSC officers are acting under ICE supervision.
- The document does not require PSC police to ask students about immigration status during everyday campus interactions, such as traffic stops, wellness checks, or routine safety calls. It also does not create immigration checkpoints or grant ICE unrestricted access to campus.
- For most students, the agreement does not change day-to-day campus operations.
Who the Agreement Applies To
- The agreement applies only to designated PSC law enforcement officers who complete ICE training and certification. It does not apply to faculty, staff, administrators, advisors, or student employees.
- Participating officers remain PSC employees but operate under ICE direction when performing immigration enforcement duties. ICE retains oversight of immigration-related actions while PSC continues to supervise officer’s general employment.
When Immigration Authority May Be Used
- Under the agreement, certified PSC officers may assist ICE in limited situations defined by federal law. These include questioning individuals about their right to remain in the United States, executing immigration warrants, issuing immigration detainers at ICE’s direction and transferring individuals into ICE custody.
- The agreement states that immigration authority may only be exercised under ICE supervision and may be revoked at any time. Officers are not authorized to perform immigration enforcement functions outside the scope of the agreement.
Arrest, Charges and Custody
- If a student or other individual is arrested on state or local charges, the agreement states that those charges are generally expected to be resolved first. ICE typically assumes custody only after local legal proceedings are completed unless ICE determines otherwise.
- When PSC officers act under the agreement, ICE controls decisions related to immigration detention and removal proceedings.
Civil Rights Protections
- The agreement requires compliance with federal civil rights laws and states that individuals with limited English proficiency must be given access to interpreters during immigration related interactions.
- PSC officers acting under ICE authority must also follow ICE authority, ICE use-of-force policies, and remain subject to oversight and review.
How Students Can File Complaints
- The agreement outlines formal complaint procedures for anyone who believes an officer has acted improperly while exercising immigration enforcement authority.
- Complaints may be filed with ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility or through PSC’s Internal Affairs Division. Complaints may be submitted by students, members of the public, or PSC personnel. Officers may be removed from participation in the program while investigations are pending.
What the Agreement Does Not Address
- The agreement does not address classroom instruction, enrollment policies, financial aid, student services, or academic programming. It does not change admissions requirements or tuition policies.
- Its scope is limited to law enforcement authority, training, supervision and coordination between PSC police and ICE.
Why the Agreement Matters to Students
- While the agreement does not change routine campus life, it establishes a legal framework allowing limited cooperation between PSC law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
- For students, the practical impact depends on how often and in what circumstances the authority outlined in the agreement is used. The document emphasizes that immigration enforcement authority is narrow, conditional, and subject to ICE supervision.
Student FAQ: PSC – ICE Agreement
Question: Can PSC police stop me just to check my immigration status?
Answer: No. The agreement does not authorize routine or random immigration status checks. Immigration authority may only be exercised by designated, ICE-trained PSC officers in specific law enforcement situations under ICE supervision.
Question: Does this apply to professors, staff or advisors?
Answer: No. The agreement applies only to selected PSC law enforcement officers. Faculty, staff, and administrators are not authorized to perform immigration enforcement functions.
Question: Will ICE be present on campus regularly?
Answer: The agreement does not grant ICE unrestricted or routine access to campus. Immigration enforcement activity is limited to situations defined by the agreement.
Question: Could a student be turned over to ICE?
Answer: ICE controls decisions. If an individual is arrested on state or local charges, those charges are generally expected to be resolved first before ICE assumes custody unless ICE determines otherwise.
Question: What if I believe an officer acted improperly?
Answer: Complaints may be filed with PSC’s Internal Affairs Division or ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility. Officers may be removed from the program while complaints are investigated.