Frequently Asked Questions
Law Enforcement Requests - FAQs
With guidance from UT System, the following FAQs are intended to guide UTSA faculty and staff about their responsibilities when interacting with external law enforcement officers, including federal immigration officers, on university property.
Faculty and staff with additional questions should contact their supervisor. Students seeking immigration advice should contact a licensed attorney.
Is external law enforcement, including the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allowed to come onto UTSA campuses and enter campus buildings?
External law enforcement officers, including federal immigration officers, may enter any public area of a campus. Access to nonpublic or restricted areas typically requires an officer to provide a judicial warrant. Questions about law enforcement requests should be directed to the UTSA Police Department at (210) 458-4242 or UTSAPolice@utsa.edu
What should I do if a law enforcement officer or federal immigration officer appears at my worksite and requests access to a location?
Remain calm and respectful. Inform the federal immigration officer that you are not obstructing their process but that you must notify the UTSA Police Department (UTSAPD). Immediately contact the UTSAPD at (210) 458-4242 to inform them of the situation. Follow the instructions given by UTSAPD and do not attempt to determine the validity of a warrant on your own.
What should I do if a law enforcement officer or federal immigration officer appears at my worksite and requests documents or other information from university records?
If a law enforcement officer or federal immigration officer asks you to provide information from university records, contact the Office of Legal Affairs at (210) 458-4105. Be respectful and inform the federal immigration officer that, due to privacy laws, all requests for information from university records are reviewed by the Office of Legal Affairs. UTSA complies with all lawful requests for information.
General FAQs
As a UTSA student, can the Office of Legal Affairs provide me with legal advice or representation?
The Office of Legal Affairs represents the University of Texas at San Antonio. The Office of Legal Affairs does not represent students. If you are a UTSA student and you are in need of an attorney, below are some resources you may find helpful.
TexasLawHelp
This is an online service that provides free legal information and court forms for simple civil legal problems. Please visit their website for more information: https://texaslawhelp.org/.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA)
This organization provides free legal services to low income residents. You must meet the eligibility guidelines to qualify. To learn more and see if you qualify for assistance, please visit their website: https://www.trla.org/.
St. Mary's University School of Law Center for Legal and Social Justice
The Consumer Protection Clinic has a Housing Hotline at 210-570-6135 that offers free legal information, advice, and referrals for people in a housing crisis. Please see the website for more information on the various clinics offered: https://law.stmarytx.edu/academics/special-programs/clinics/#civiljustice.
San Antonio Legal Services Association (SALSA)
This service provides free civil law legal help to low-income people, including family, housing, consumer law issues and more. To learn more and see if you qualify for assistance, please visit their website: https://www.sa-lsa.org/.
Texas Legal Services Center
This service offers free assistance across Texas in various areas of law, such as crime victims, family, veterans’ assistance, and probate. To learn more and see if you qualify for assistance, please visit their website: https://www.tlsc.org/legal-aid-programs.
The University of Texas at San Antonio Office of Legal Affairs is committed to providing accurate, thorough and timely legal advice to the University administration, and to pursuing a proactive, problem-solving approach to legal issues and problems through a collaborative effort with the administration.
None of the information contained on this web site is intended to be construed as legal advice.
