We will comply with all applicable law and are committed to cooperating with law enforcement within the constraints of the law and our own delegated responsibilities.
If any Government Agent Comes to Your Workplace
- Be respectful
- Take enough time for yourself to think through and formulate your answers.
- Ask the agent for their name and to see their government issued badge. Most likely the agent will show you their badge without you asking. If not, it is your right to ask for this.
o If the agent approaches a student worker first, the student should immediately get their supervisor and/or their human resource (HR) representative.
- Verify the agent’s identity and agency with badge.
- Ask the agent why they are on campus if they have not shared that information already.
- Ask the agent to have a seat in a waiting room or lobby. If you do not have such a space, politely ask them to wait where they are while you try to reach the proper contact.
- Call the Office of General Counsel (OGC) at 608-262-2995 [or your Office of Legal Affairs and number for UW-Milwaukee and UW-Madison] and speak with one of the attorneys.
- [Campuses: Determine whether individuals should also call campus police to alert them of another law enforcement entity on campus]
o Tell the attorney the following information: “Agent X from the Department of Y is here to talk to you about Z.”
o Do not leave a message with Legal.
o If no one from UW Legal is available, tell the agent that no one is available right now. Ask him if he can come back another time.
- Do not give the agent access to any paper files or access to any computer systems.
Agents are free to enter any public areas of your workplace but must have a valid search warrant to enter a non-public area. Do not give your consent to enter a non-public area.
- Public areas may include reception, waiting areas and lobbies; open dining areas such as cafeterias; restrooms; and other common areas accessible by members of the public without screening or escort. Non-public areas include private offices and laboratories; private residential rooms; classrooms and lecture halls that are currently in use; and other secured or restricted-access areas designated for instructional or research use.
- A valid warrant must be signed and dated by a judge. It will include a period within which the search must be conducted, a description of the premises to be searched, and a list of items to be searched for and seized (e.g., payroll records, employee identification documents, I-9 forms, SSA correspondence, etc.).
The agents may be federal or state officers, federal or state auditors or other similarly situated individuals.