"This is one of the first steps of many," said Cindy Villarreal-Medina, CRU’s public relations chair.

CRU has also worked with MSU in updating the university’s Immigrant Support & Safety website following the executive orders. 

"Know Your Rights" presentations have been held on campus since before the Trump administration took office, but UFW organizer Daniel Oropeza said the timing of the event holds importance because of recent ICE raids in Detroit. 

He went on to share ways to identify ICE in public spaces, including their lack of standardized uniform. 

Due to Michigan’s proximity to the Canadian border, undocumented immigrants may also be at "higher risk" of being detained by both ICE and border patrol forces, UFW Michigan State Director Amanda Villa said. 

Villa also warns against the common notion amongst undocumented immigrants that their legal status means they have no rights under the U.S. Constitution. 

"You should always use your (fifth) amendment rights," Villa said. 

"If ICE gets to your home, do not open the door," she continued. "Always ask for identification, but it's better not to even initiate conversation with ICE."

This information can also be found summarized on Red Cards, a popular resource for those who may not speak English. UFW distributed Red Cards for students at the event. They are also available to download for free online. 

Event organizers also discussed the role of the university in the case of potential ICE raids. 

The MSU Department of Police & Public Safety will not assist in enforcing federal immigration laws, MSU Chief of Police Mike Yankowski told The State News earlier this month, but he said the university also does not need to grant permission to federal law enforcement for agents to be on campus. 

The university would not send a campus-wide alert in the case of federal officials being on campus, a university spokesperson told The State News. 

But organizers said that if a raid does occur, and members of the community wish to alert others, the UFW advises to record the ICE agent rather than the individual being detained to avoid compromising the detainee’s identity. 

"We want you to be calm," Villa said.  

Utilize the resources available and try not to create panic, she added. 

"The way we look at it is all humans, everyone in the whole nation, your work, your presence, your sweat, your education, your presence, not only matters, but it counts," Oropeza said. "Everybody has rights."

The UFW concluded the presentation by distributing an information packet and QR codes filled with more resources for students.  

"We might have another to make sure that we have more people come and show up for this," Villarreal-Medina said after the event. "I'm glad that we had people come show interest and take all of the resources that we did provide today."

This is one of multiple "Know Your Rights" events taking place on campus this week, though the events are not affiliated with one another. 

On Feb. 20, there will be a webinar by Veronica T. Thronson, a professor of law and the director of MSU's Immigration Law Clinic. That event is sponsored by Chicano/Latino Studies, the College of Arts and Letters, and the College of Social Science and will be from noon to 1 p.m. Attendees can register here. 

Additionally, the ACLU will be hosting a "Know Your Rights" event on Friday, Feb. 21 in Club Spartan at 3 p.m. for James Madison College students and faculty. 

MSU has also set up a web page for frequently asked questions relating to immigration concerns on campus.