Don’t be aggressive - Summer work students told to play it cool with US law enforcement

As Jamaican university students prepare to travel to the US for the annual summer work and travel programme, recent videos circulating online showing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducting public stops have heightened anxiety.

Students and parents are raising questions about safety and how lawful visa holders should respond to law-enforcement encounters. US authorities have said immigration enforcement efforts are focused on individuals who are unlawfully present in the country. However, there is still uncertainty.

Speaking with THE STAR, Mark Foster, CEO of overseas cultural exchange agency SWAT Productions, said the concern is understandable, but stressed that preparation and compliance remain the strongest protection for Jamaican students.

"Based on what's in the news, it's natural for students to be worried," Foster said. "But if we are prepared, know what to expect, and know how to respond, there are mitigating factors even in worst-case scenarios."

The J-1 Exchange Visitor Programme allows students to work legally in the US for a fixed period during the summer. Participants must be accepted into a pre-approved US exchange programme, be registered in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), and complete the required visa process, including the DS-160 non-immigrant visa application and interview.

Foster noted that while some highly publicised law-enforcement encounters have ended badly, those incidents are not unique to immigration enforcement.

"Any arrest, whether by ICE or regular police, can go wrong if people don't know how to conduct themselves," he told THE STAR.

As a result, SWAT has expanded its pre-departure training to focus not only on immigration matters, but on how students should respond to any interaction with law enforcement in the US.

"At our departure seminar, it's critical that students attend," Foster said. "We're giving them additional information, so they understand how to behave if they're stopped, whether it's ICE, a traffic stop, or any police encounter."

Students are being advised to remain calm and compliant at all times.

"Don't be aggressive. Be mannerable. If an officer instructs you to put your hands up, do so," Foster said. "Avoid sudden movements so there's no misinterpretation."

A central part of that preparation involves documentation. Foster said students are being instructed to carry their passports and DS-2019 forms at all times, even when leaving home for non-work activities. The DS-2019 is an official document issued by a programme sponsor that confirms a student's legal participation in the J-1 programme. It contains the sponsor's contact details, programme dates, and a SEVIS identification number, which allows US authorities to quickly verify a student's legal status.

"If an ICE officer asks for identification, students should calmly tell them they have it and where it is," Foster said. "Once it's checked, officers can verify the sponsor's information, the I-94 record, or the SEVIS number and confirm the student is legally in the country."

"Worst-case scenario, if a student is arrested, the sponsor is notified and can intervene," he said. "They have established channels to get that student cleared and returned to the programme as quickly as possible."

SWAT has also taken steps to reduce risk by closely monitoring placements. Foster said the agency reviews reports, feedback, and conditions in host communities, and avoids locations where students may feel unsafe or unsupported.

"We do our due diligence in deciding where students are placed," he said. "We're cautious, and we continuously reassess."