Around noon this Thursday, several National Immigration Agency (NIA) officers dressed in plainclothes and without identification entered the National Taiwan University (NTU) campus to investigate illegal migrant workers. They did so without first notifying the university, and in the process they mistakenly arrested a lawful resident on campus. The NIA has since issued a formal apology for the incident.

The incident not only frightened students but also sparked heated debate. The National Taiwan University Student Association (NTUSA) issued a press release on Friday condemning what they called an illegal inspection and demanding the NIA to clarify their standard procedures and subsequent action.

In response, the NIA said that the on-site inspection was limited to the reported migrant workers and no students were interrogated. Deputy Captain of the Taipei City Immigration Agency’s Special Task Force Lin Wei-hsiang (林偉祥) explained the situation, apologizing on behalf of the agency. The NIA further explained that the migrant workers and their employers will be subject to disciplinary action by the relevant authorities. 

The NTUSA has called on the NIA to review the legal procedures for law enforcement in educational institutions, ensuring that law enforcement is carried out with the university’s knowledge and that students’ rights are not violated.