The University of Pennsylvania has advised international students and scholars to carry immigration documents as federal enforcement actions intensify across the United States. According to a report by The Daily Pennsylvanian, in a February 18 email, Penn’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) outlined the documents students should keep with them and shared guidance on interacting with law enforcement.Students asked to carry copies within Philadelphia In the email, ISSS told international students and scholars traveling within Philadelphia to carry photocopies of key immigration records, as per The Daily Pennsylvanian report. These include an unexpired passport biographical page, visa page, and updated documents such as the I-20 and I-94 forms.
Students on Optional Practical Training were asked to carry digital copies of their Employment Authorization Document card and OPT I-20, along with a USCIS approval notice if applicable. Permanent residents were advised to carry a copy of their green card.
“As an international student or scholar at Penn, you are lawfully present in the United States,” the email read, as quoted by The Daily Pennsylvanian.
Originals required for travel outside the city The message stated that students traveling outside Philadelphia should carry original immigration documents instead of photocopies.
ISSS also urged members of the international community to “remain calm, respectful and responsive” if approached by law enforcement officers.
“If a call feels suspicious, hang up and contact DPS,” the email read, according to the report, warning students about immigration-related scams that demand payment or personal information.
The email asked students to memorise and save the phone number of Penn’s Division of Public Safety and said the service is available at any time, on or off campus, including during travel within the United States or abroad.
Series of advisories amid policy shifts The latest guidance follows several updates issued over the past year as federal immigration policies evolved. In June 2025, after the United States imposed a travel ban affecting individuals from multiple countries, ISSS advised impacted students abroad to return to the US at the earliest. In December 2025, the office urged students to avoid nonessential international travel and to consult advisers before leaving the country.
The February 18 message also directed students with non-emergency questions to contact their ISSS adviser and said urgent concerns should be reported to the Division of Public Safety first.
The advisory comes at a time when immigration enforcement actions have drawn public attention in Philadelphia and other cities, prompting responses from local officials and campus groups.