YU Warns International Students as ICE Increases Immigrant Arrests

In a school-wide email sent on Jan. 30, Yeshiva University reminded undergraduate students to carry proper visa documentation at all times, citing increased federal oversight of foreign nationals in the United States.

“As a result of increased oversight of foreign nationals inside the U.S., we are sending out a reminder that foreign nationals are required by law at all times to carry a paper copy of your most recent I-94,” the email, sent by Associate Dean of Students Joe Bednarsh, stated. “It is also a good idea to carry any relevant immigration status documents such as Form I-20, DS-2019, Form I-797, a valid EAD card if authorized for employment, etc.” 

The email also addressed undocumented individuals, stating, that if “you or someone you know is undocumented, know that if you are approached by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, you have rights.” A PDF outlining individual rights and proper procedures when encountering ICE was attached to the message.

YU has a significant number of international students enrolled in the university, with many coming from Canada, Israel and Latin America. 

The university had not been contacted by ICE before sending the email and the message was intended as a precautionary measure, Bednarsh later told The Commentator.

“We have a sacred responsibility to care for students, and I would not want any student to go through what might be a traumatic experience, especially if English is not their first language,” Bednarsh said. He added that most universities across the country are taking similar steps to inform students about immigration requirements. “I am not aware of any undocumented students, and I’m not sure how I would know,” he said.

In addition to the email, the university held a meeting for incoming international students during orientation week, where YU staff reviewed visa requirements and emphasized the legal consequences of committing crimes as non-U.S. citizens. Students were warned that engaging in federally prohibited activities — such as cannabis consumption, which is decriminalized in New York but remains illegal under federal law — could result in severe repercussions, including potential deportation.

The email comes amid a period of heightened immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump has vowed to carry out what he has called the “largest deportation operation” in U.S. history. Federal immigration authorities make an average of 1,000 arrests per day, and recent efforts have included the use of U.S. military aircraft to deport migrants. Trump has also proposed housing up to 30,000 migrants at the Guantanamo Bay facility in Cuba.

ICE has maintained an active presence in New York City, including a recent arrest at 530 Audubon Ave., a seven-minute walk from YU’s Wilf Campus. The individual, a suspect in a double homicide, was taken into custody by ICE agents. YU officials have not reported any enforcement actions on campus. 

“YU has our backs, the bureaucracy is taken care of and I’m given simple instructions on how to maintain my residency status,” Saadiah Klein (SSSB ‘27), a United Kingdom national, told the Commentator. “I'd like to thank Rukia Rahi, the International program coordinator, for helping us international students. Currently, I am not afraid of getting deported.”

Photo Caption: YU warned international students to stay vigilant amid immigration crackdowns.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons