Penn advises international students to carry immigration documents as federal enforcement escalates

As the federal government’s immigration enforcement crackdown continues, Penn’s International Student and Scholar Services reiterated guidance instructing international students to carry their immigration documents with them on Wednesday.

In a Feb. 18 email obtained by The Daily Pennsylvanian, ISSS emphasized the importance of carrying certain immigration documents and provided recommendations on handling interactions with law enforcement. The message also directed community members to support resources offered by Penn’s Division of Public Safety. 

“As an international student or scholar at Penn, you are lawfully present in the United States,” the email read.

A request for comment was left with an ISSS spokesperson.

In the message, ISSS advised international students and scholars traveling within Philadelphia to carry photocopies of relevant documentation, including an “unexpired passport biographical page,” a visa page, and up-to-date paperwork such as the I-20 and I-94 forms.

The email advised students on OPT — a temporary work authorization allowing F-1 visa students to work in the United States after graduating — to carry digital copies of their “EAD Card and OPT I-20,” and if applicable, a USCIS approval notice. ISSS also recommended that permanent residents carry a copy of their green card.

The email specified that international students traveling outside Philadelphia should carry originals — not photocopies — of their immigration documentation.

The message also recommended international community members “remain calm, respectful and responsive” to requests if approached by law enforcement officers. 

The email instructed international students to memorize and save the Division of Public Safety’s number and assured them that those services are “available at any time, on or off campus — including while traveling within the United States or abroad.”

ISSS also reminded students to be aware of immigration-related scams, specifically those that “demand payment” or request “personal information.” 

“If a call feels suspicious, hang up and contact DPS,” the email read.

The recommendation is the latest in a series of guidance issued by ISSS amid a shifting immigration policy landscape.

In June 2025, the U.S. instituted a travel ban restricting entry for individuals from a dozen countries. At the time, Penn ISSS urged students located in countries affected by the ban to return to the U.S. as soon as possible.

In December 2025, ISSS issued guidance to students affected by expanded federal restrictions on entry into the U.S., urging students to avoid nonessential international travel and to consult advisors before leaving the country.

Last month, hundreds of people gathered in Center City to protest the deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to Minneapolis. Days later, Philadelphia councilmembers introduced legislation to limit the activities of federal immigration agents in the city. 

“For non-emergency questions, contact your ISSS advisor,” the email read. “For urgent concerns, call DPS first.”

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