Abigail Hebert

On Monday afternoon, the College hosted a “Know Your Rights” event for students, faculty and staff. Members of the Bowdoin community filled Kresge Auditorium to hear from Zach Heiden ’95, chief counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Maine, on their rights pertaining to immigration enforcement.

In an email to all students last Friday, Senior Vice President and Dean for Student Affairs Jim Hoppe shared further details about the event and reiterated the information provided in a campuswide message last month.

“We recognize that this situation is concerning for many of you, and want to provide information and resources when possible,” Hoppe wrote. “While we do not have any information that suggests [U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] will be coming to the Bowdoin campus, [Associate Vice President of Safety and Security] Bill Harwood’s recent messages outlined the College’s protocols should they do so.”

During the talk, Heiden elaborated how the Constitution protects individuals in their encounters with law enforcement officers.

“When someone is stopped by immigration officers, it can be difficult to know what to say. Officers are trained to take advantage of that confusion in order to get people to speak or consent to searches,” Heiden wrote in an email to the Orient. “It is helpful to have a few clear phrases in mind that can be used any time you are stopped or questioned: ‘Am I free to leave?,’ ‘I do not consent to searches,’ ‘I am invoking my right to remain silent’ [or] ‘I would like to speak with my attorney before answering questions.’”

Heiden also highlighted how the right to observe, record and document law enforcement activity is constitutionally protected.

“Students—and everyone—should know that the First Amendment protects your right to observe and record law enforcement activity in public. Those recordings can be a powerful tool for accountability and policy change,” he wrote.

In a January press release, the ACLU of Maine shared updated guidance on how to approach interactions with ICE officers.

“You have the right not to open the door to your home or private areas of your business unless agents have a judicial warrant signed by a judge,” the release reads. “Never sign any documents or answer questions without consulting an attorney.”

In an email to the Orient, Hoppe detailed the College’s goals for this event.

“It’s important for our community to be as informed as possible,” Hoppe wrote. “One of our key goals is for community members to know about and feel comfortable accessing resources.”

Hoppe additionally mentioned the possibility of future programming on similar topics.

“We will continue to pursue all possible means to help keep the community informed, including potential programs in the coming weeks,” Hoppe wrote.

Heiden emphasized the importance of both people knowing their rights and the ACLU of Maine’s work.

“We are working to hold the government accountable when it violates people’s rights and to make sure that people understand their rights. Many of our most important rights need to be actively exercised; there’s no point in a right to free speech if people are afraid to say anything,” Heiden wrote. “Exercising our rights is difficult. We are here to help.”

In an email to the Orient, Harwood outlined immigration and safety resources available to students.

“The safety and wellbeing of our community is the primary concern of Safety and Security. I strongly encourage members of our community to access the Bowdoin Immigration and Safety Resources for Students, Faculty and Staff website,” Harwood wrote. “Students should not hesitate to reach out to their deans or to Safety and Security if they have concerns or particular questions. We are committed to offering support.”