photo by: Sanctuary Alliance of Lawrence

Sanctuary Alliance of Lawrence reports multiple ICE agent sightings in the city on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026.

Story updated at 12:04 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27:

An organization that monitors the activity of U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents said it has confirmed at least two detainments on Friday, with one on the University of Kansas campus.

According to a social media post from the organization Sanctuary Alliance of Lawrence, ICE agents were seen at 18th and Arkansas streets in a parking lot by Naismith Hall and the Ambler Student Recreation Center, 1740 Watkins Center Dr., at 7:40 a.m. on Friday.

“We can confirm that one individual was detained as they pulled over into the parking lot off the street headed toward 19th street,” the post said. “We are working with the family of the detained individual and have been able to provide immediate support.”

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, a spokesperson for the university, told the Journal-World via email that KU is aware of reports that federal immigration officers may have been present in Lawrence campus parking areas on Friday.

“KU Public Safety has been notified and is working to gather additional information,” Barcomb-Peterson said. “At this time, we do not have confirmed details about the nature of the activity or whether it involved any KU students or employees. We understand these reports are unsettling, and our priority is the well‑being of our campus community.”

In addition, Sanctuary Alliance received reports of ICE activity on 27th and Iowa streets in the parking lot by Dicks Sporting Goods at 6:50 a.m. A social media post said the organization was able to confirm one person was detained by two agents in a black SUV and truck from that location.

In an earlier social media post, Sanctuary Alliance said ICE agents were also seen at the DoubleTree Hotel in Lawrence, 200 McDonald Dr., on Friday morning, but there was no additional information on the sighting and whether or not someone had been detained at the location.

As the Journal-World reported, the organization alerted the community last week after ICE agents detained five people in Lawrence. There have been multiple protests in the community following the arrests from Haskell students and students from the Lawrence high schools.

KU administrators last week sent an email to KU employees about how they should interact if outside law enforcement comes to the KU campus. While the communication from KU’s Office of General Counsel did not specifically mention ICE by name, it did highlight procedures for faculty and staff to follow if a “government law enforcement agency conducts an enforcement action” on campus.

The memo advises that most areas of the KU campus are open to the public, and thus law enforcement officers may enter public areas of the campus without a warrant. However, the memo also notes that law enforcement without a warrant can have their access limited to some areas of campus “where KU has restricted access to the public through university-issued ID card, locked doors or monitored entryways, including the university residence halls, as well as areas KU considers private due to concerns for privacy, safety and operational needs.”

“These areas may include administrative or faculty offices, classrooms, clinics and laboratories. Outside law enforcement agents must have a judicial warrant or subpoena to enter most of these private or limited access areas on campus,” the memo further notes.

The memo, however, acknowledges that it may be difficult for students, faculty and staff to make an accurate determination of whether an area is a public or private space on campus. Instead of students, faculty and staff trying to make those determinations, the General Counsel Office instructs individuals to call the non-emergency number — 785-864-5900 — of the KU Police Department to report the law enforcement activity.

University employees are instructed to not accept service of any subpoena or warrant before contacting KU’s Office of General Counsel.

KU also is asking employees to document any interaction with outside law enforcement agencies by noting the date, time and details of the interaction. The memo states that cameras and recording devices “may be used unless prohibited by other policies of the university or the facility where you are located.”

However, the memo also reminds employees to not take any action that could be considered interfering with the law enforcement officials.

“While you have the right to document and report the incident, for your own safety do not physically obstruct or interfere with the actions of government agents,” the memo states.

This is a developing story and will be updated.