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Federal Policy, Order and Directive Updates

This webpage was created to provide the CMU community with updates and information related to federal executive orders and actions. This page is maintained by the CMU Policy Compliance and Communications Committee (PCC), which monitors government actions that could impact our community. We will use this page to share factual, verified information and updates as often as possible, and we invite CMU students, faculty and staff to check back regularly.

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What CMU is doing now

In early 2026, the PCC is carefully monitoring changes to federal immigration policy and practice, and assessing how those changes will affect our students, faculty, and staff members' ability to work in the U.S. and to travel outside the country. The group is also seeking to understand how these changes will impact the future of international student enrollment at CMU, and our ability to recruit and engage international scholars as visitors to our campus.

At the same time, the group is closely following nationwide coverage of actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The PCC continues to recommend that students, faculty and staff follow the guidance provided below if they interact with ICE agents on CMU’s campus.


U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

What do we need to know about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement? 

As of January 26, 2026, there have been no verified reports of ICE activity on CMU's campus or in the surrounding Mount Pleasant community.

On January 21, 2025, the Acting United States Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security changed guidance related to ICE activities on university campuses and other “sensitive” and “protected” locations. Under the new guidance, ICE agents may now engage in enforcement activities on or near university campuses. 

Since summer 2025, DHS has increased the presence and activity of ICE agents in several cities nationwide. To date, there has been no such activity reported at CMU or in our surrounding community.

Is U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allowed on CMU’s campus?  

CMU is a public university that receives state and federal funding. Therefore, many places on the university’s campus are considered public spaces and are open to the general public, including law enforcement and government officials, without a warrant. However, to achieve its academic mission, CMU has designated certain spaces on campus as private/non-public spaces, including, but not limited to:  

  • Residence hall hallways requiring key-card access 
  • Individual students' residence hall rooms  
  • Faculty/staff/other offices  
  • Classroom/lab spaces, when they are being used for educational purposes, including when students are assembling for or leaving classes. 

CMU has an obligation to provide a safe and secure living and learning environment for students, faculty and staff. To meet this obligation, CMU has restricted access to these academic, residential and administrative spaces. ICE must provide an appropriate judicial warrant to enter these restricted spaces. With an appropriate judicial warrant, ICE agents also have the authority to enter non-public spaces on campus to detain or arrest individuals named in the warrant. 

ICE agents do not need a judicial warrant to enter CMU’s public spaces. ICE agents can therefore detain and arrest individuals within their federal law enforcement authority in those public spaces. 

CMU General Counsel will determine if the presented warrants/orders are appropriate and might require action from CMU community members. 

What to do if an ICE agent asks to enter a non-public space or requests FERPA-protected or personal information about a student, faculty or staff member: 

Only certain designated university officials can give ICE agents permission to enter non-public spaces, determine whether the university can provide Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protected information under a FERPA exception, and/or decide when providing FERPA-protected or personally identifiable information about a CMU student, faculty or staff member is appropriate.  

If you are asked to provide entrance to a non-public space or to provide FERPA-protected or personally identifiable information about a student, faculty or staff member: 

  1. Remain calm. Do not physically obstruct or interfere with law enforcement activity. 
  2. Say: I am not authorized to grant access to non-public spaces at the university, nor to provide any personally identifiable information about our students, faculty and staff. I am also not authorized to accept documentation on behalf of the university. 
  3. Notify the agent that you are required to involve CMU’s General Counsel before taking any action. 
  4. Call CMU General Counsel at 989-774-3971 to request guidance. If the interaction occurs outside regular business hours (Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.), please call CMU Dispatch at 989-774-3081 to request assistance from CMU Police. 
  5. Notify CMU Police that ICE is on campus by calling 989-774-3081. 
  6. Do not provide any information nor access to any private spaces until advised to do so by CMU General Counsel or CMU Police. 
    • Ask the agent to wait in a public space, such as a lobby or waiting area, until General Counsel arrives.
    • You also may direct the agent to visit the Office of the General Counsel in Warriner Hall, Room 103.  
  7. Let the agent know you need to take down details of the interaction to share with General Counsel. 
    • Note the time, place and location of the interaction. If possible, note the agent’s name and ask them for a business card. 
    • Provide these details to General Counsel, either when they arrive on scene or via email at lehne1km@cmich.edu. 
  8. If the ICE agent insists on carrying out activity before General Counsel or CMU Police arrive: Do not physically obstruct or interfere with ICE activity. 
    • Document the interaction with as much detail as possible. 
    • Note that it is possible for agents to believe there are “exigent circumstances” that allow them to enter CMU facilities without a warrant; these decisions may be open to legal challenges later. 

Ongoing issue monitoring

Updates on International Student Visas and international travel

Changes to U.S. visa policies and practices in 2025 and 2026 have affected international students' ability to secure visas to study in the United States. Like many colleges and universities nationwide, CMU experienced declines in international student enrollment due to delayed or cancelled visa appointments and travel bans for 19 countries. 

In addition, some CMU students, faculty and staff members have experienced challenges when traveling internationally. CMU cannot provide individual legal advice nor recommend specific immigration attorneys, but international students and scholars who encounter challenges are encouraged to contact an immigration attorney immediately for legal advice. 

You can find a list of websites with information about immigration law in the section above. You can also connect with immigration attorneys at the American Immigration Lawyers Association website or you can contact Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, our area's branch of Legal Aid, at 1-800-322-4512. 

The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center website and the National Immigrant Justice Center, both mentioned in the section above, also offer information that may be helpful to students, faculty and staff. 

What is happening with executive orders and actions?

Since January 2025, there have been hundreds of new, revised and rescinded executive orders and federal actions. To date, many that could have affected higher education have been subject to legal challenges. In some cases, federal judges have put temporary injunctions in place, and, in other cases, multiple organizations have filed suit to block the actions.  As a result, the implications of these orders remain unclear. Numerous higher education advocacy and policy groups, including the Association of American Universities and the American Council on Education, are also involved in reviewing and interpreting these orders.

Members of the Policy Compliance and Communication Committee are following developments related to these actions carefully and are discussing them regularly with higher education policy and advocacy groups. If action is required from CMU, we will use this page and university-wide emails to notify students, faculty and staff.

 

Some of the first executive orders targeted DEI programs, offices, and activities. What has CMU done to address those orders? 

In January 2026, the U.S. Department of Education ceased efforts to advance its February 14, 2025, "Dear Colleague Letter," which would have required colleges and universities to certify that they did not engage in "illegal DEI practices" as outlined in the letter. However, there are still federal directives from the Department of Education and the Department of Justice that may impact DEI in the future.

It is not yet clear if CMU will be required to make any changes to comply with existing federal guidelines and orders. At this time, there is no need to cancel previously planned programs and activities, nor to make changes to curriculum.

Changes via executive orders do not change our commitment to our students, faculty and staff, nor to our mission, vision, and values. We still offer educational opportunities that advance our academic mission and provide services that support all of our students. We will continue to do what we do best: Preparing scholars and leaders for a lifetime of success, making a positive impact in the communities we serve, and contributing to the health, well-being, and prosperity of all people.

While we cannot speculate on the impact of any potential future orders, please know that we will notify the university community should action be required from CMU. We will communicate changes via this webpage and through university-wide email messaging.

 

What about the Department of Education and Federal Student Financial Aid?

There have been several changes at the Department of Education that affect higher education, including staffing reductions in some offices and partnering with other federal departments to administer certain programs and services.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed in July 2025, included numerous changes to federal student aid. An overview of those changes is available in the July 8 email called Federal Budget Reconciliation Bill. 

Actions impacting research and scholarly activity

Several of the executive actions have included language related to funding for research and scholarly activity. The Policy Compliance and Communications Committee, in collaboration with the Office of the Provost, is monitoring developments on these orders and communicating directly with affected researchers.

Faculty researchers: Unless you receive direct notification from your research sponsor to discontinue your research activity, you may continue your work. Please reach out to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies if you have a question about your federal grant.

Where to get support

Even though few of the executive orders directly impact CMU’s academic operations, they may deeply affect members of our university community. You and/or your friends, colleagues, classmates and neighbors may be feeling upset, confused and even afraid – these are valid, understandable emotions. In our campus updates, we will do our best to provide up-to-date, factual information about what is happening and what, if anything, is required of CMU. We also encourage you to take advantage of resources that can help you care for your emotional and mental well-being. 

The CMU Counseling Center offers group activities that offer a chance to unplug, engage with others and practice self-care. You can find a list of those activities on the Counseling Center webpage. The Counseling Center also offers individual appointments and a list of 24/7 resources.

University Recreation and the Student Activity Center provide group opportunities to engage in fitness and other healthy lifestyle activities that support stress reduction, personal health and fitness and social engagement. 

The CMU Employee Assistance program offers programs and services for faculty and staff. You can learn more about those offerings by visiting the HealthAdvocate webpage. 

If a student, faculty or staff member you know is struggling and needs help, we encourage you to complete a CMU CARES report using the online forms found on the CMU CARES webpage. A member of the CMU Cares team will reach out to the individual to offer support.

PCC Committee Members

  • John Danner, General Counsel
  • Jennifer DeHaemers, Vice President, Student Recruitment and Retention
  • Mary Jane Flanagan, Secretary to the Board of Trustees and Special Advisor to the President
  • Ari Harris, Executive Director, Strategic Communications
  • Mary Hill, Vice President, Finance and Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer
  • Paula Lancaster, Provost and Executive Vice President
  • Mary Martinez, Assistant to the President for Institutional Equity and Compliance
  • Shawna Patterson-Stephens, Vice President, University Engagement and Student Affairs
  • Erica Peters, Chief of Staff to the President
  • Toby Roth, Vice President, Government and External Relations
  • Harlan Teller, Vice President, University Communications and Chief Marketing Officer

PCC email updates from the President and Provost

Together with the Policy Compliance and Communication Committee, President MacKinnon and Provost Lancaster share updates on federal actions and activities via emails to the university community. An archive of these email messages can be found on the PCC Email Communications webpage.