SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY SAFETY AWARENESS HANDBOOK
TIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The Department of Public Safety welcomes you to Siena Heights University . The professional Public Safety staff is available 24 hours a day at the Ledwidge Hall Information Desk or by phone at 517.263.0731 or “ 0 ” from a house phone . Our Public Safety Officers are trained in many aspects of crime prevention and community service . Below are a few important highlights for International Students . Additional safety tips are located in the remaining portions of this Campus Safety Awareness Handbook .
The International Student and the Law
As an international student , you are subject to US laws except those pertaining to immigration , voting rights and citizenship . You are also protected by US laws . Should you come into conflict with the law , the first people to contact are the International Student Advisors . They will let you know whom to contact next – either a lawyer or another responsible adult .
If an international student is accused of a violation of the law , international students ( just like US citizens ) may not be forced to confess or to give evidence against themselves ; they may remain silent and refuse to answer any questions regarding the accusation against them , if they so choose . International students are entitled to have a lawyer to defend them in court , and if they cannot afford to hire a lawyer , they may have one appointed by the court . So , if an international student is arrested for any reason , they do not have to make any statements or answer any questions without legal counsel , i . e . a lawyer .
International students often worry that they will be deported should they come into conflict with the law . In general , they will not be deported for a single misdemeanor or a minor offense , e . g ., larceny , disturbing the peace , etc . But if an international student is convicted of a crime involving “ moral turpitude ” for which they are then sentenced to one year or more in confinement , deportation is a real possibility . Charges relating to drug ( narcotic drugs or marijuana ) addiction , possession and sale fall into this category . Students who violate immigration laws and work illegally in the US may also be subject to deportation .
In addition to violation of the law , international students must consider several other related factors that may affect their immigration status .
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