Undocumented Students
Immigration Enforcement on Campus: A Guide for Blazers
Every Blazer deserves a campus where they can learn, work, and ask for help without fear. This guide explains how JWCC responds if immigration enforcement activity happens on campus, and where students and employees can turn for support.
Our Commitment
John Wood Community College is a place for every Blazer, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. JWCC will not grant access to non-public areas of campus, or share private information about a student or employee, unless a valid judicial warrant or another legal requirement leaves us no choice. Protecting our students’ and employees’ privacy is not optional – it’s how we keep this campus safe and welcoming.
Resources for Students and Employees
The organizations below offer free or low-cost help understanding your rights and navigating immigration questions. This list is for information only — it isn’t legal advice, and JWCC does not provide legal representation.
- Illinois Immigration Info: statewide hub for know-your-rights information and legal referrals
- Illinois Attorney General, Immigrant Rights
- The Immigration Project: serves immigrants across downstate and West-Central Illinois
- Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (ICIRR): statewide hotline: 1.855.435.7693 (English, Spanish, Korean, Polish)
- JWCC International Student Services: for questions specific to F-1 and international student status, contact PDSO Kristen Ritterbusch (international@jwcc.edu, 217.641.4314, C176)
If Law Enforcement Comes to Campus
If you see immigration enforcement officers on campus, or you’re approached directly, here’s what to know:
- Students and visitors: Call Campus Safety at 217.641.4949. Campus Safety is JWCC’s point of contact for any law enforcement activity on campus, including immigration enforcement or an unwanted encounter with a student or employee.
- Employees: If an officer presents you with a warrant, subpoena, or any other document – or simply asks a verbal question – don’t try to handle it yourself. Contact a Campus Contact below right away. JWCC staff are not expected to verify credentials or make disclosure decisions on their own.
Only a valid judicial warrant, signed by a judge, permits access to non-public areas of campus or the release of a student’s or employee’s private information. An administrative warrant alone does not.
Campus Contacts
Reach any Campus Contact by calling 217.641.4949:
- Doug McQuern — Chief of Campus Police (primary contact)
- Brittany McKeown — Dean of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
- Kristen Ritterbusch — PDSO, Director of Pathways
- Josh Welker — Vice President, Finance and Operations
- Amy Baker — Human Resources Director