Frequently Asked Questions

Will SU send a notification to students, faculty and staff if ICE or CBP is on campus?

Seattle University’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) issues SeattleUAlert emergency notifications to the campus community. Seattle University students, staff and faculty are automatically enrolled in SeattleUAlert emergency notification messaging. Under SU’s published procedures (see SU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, p. 118), DPS sends SeattleUAlerts upon confirmation of a serious and ongoing threat to the health or safety of students and employees on campus. 

Because federal law enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP), could be present on campus for a range of activities that are not emergencies and do not pose a serious or ongoing threat, DPS will not automatically issue a SeattleUAlert based on their presence alone. If, however, DPS concludes that ICE or CBP’s activity presents a serious and ongoing threat, DPS will issue a SeattleUAlert to notify our campus community. This case-by-case process is the same approach DPS applies to the Seattle Police Department (SPD), the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) or any other agency activity near campus.