By Victoria Mejicanos, April 22, 2025
A Cal Poly Pomona computer science and engineering student was recently deported after showing up to a Los Angeles courthouse for a routine immigration appointment, which he was trying to reschedule, according to his former high school’s librarian.
The librarian, Kelley Flores, works at Manuel Arts High School, which is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, where the student — who Flores would only refer to as Christian — is an alumnus. According to Flores, Christian is highly regarded by his community.
“The kids on campus idolized him,” Flores said. “He was such a good person. He studied really hard but was also really social.”
According to Flores, he is currently in Honduras, Mexico, and it’s unclear whether he plans to or will be able to return to the United States.
Flores said there are several other students in the same situation at LASUD, often going to immigration appointments without an attorney.
Flores said that many teachers at Manuel Arts High School are in shock and disbelief about the problem, but understand that it is happening in their communities. “This is happening to innocent people. Hardworking people,” Flores said.
Due to student privacy laws, the university could not comment or confirm the student’s deportation. However, Cynthia Peters, the director of media relations for the Department of Strategic Communications, shared via email that there are 70 students across the California State University system who have had their visas revoked, including four CPP students who are in active contact with the university and are provided support.
Should a community member need legal support, the CSU provides free legal immigration services through the Central American Resource Center of California, which is available to all CSU students, employees and their family members.
“Every member of our community is valued, and we understand that changing government policies are causing a great deal of stress,”Peters said. “We are monitoring those changes and working to ensure that anyone impacted has the most recent information and support.”
The Poly Post reached out to Undocumented Student Services for more information, to which they responded by saying a representative from the Division of Student Affairs would be in touch. No one from the Division of Student Affairs contacted The Poly Post in time for publication.
The California Faculty Association has a statewide immigration task force. Amy Roberts, one of the members of the CPP chapter, said members of the task force work with the CFA to report on what occurs systemwide and how the administration is supporting and responding to its students.
“It’s more than just an issue that affects our union,” Roberts said. “It affects our communities and our families.”
She said the union works with Undocumented Student Services to organize training for faculty. The union, according to Roberts, is also working on creating a rapid response network on campus with local community organizations for situations like these.
“We want to do more, and we’re hoping to organize rallies if people are interested,” Roberts said. “Mostly, we want people to know that they can reach out to us if they need support.”
Flores’ campus has a rapid response team, and she urges members of the CPP community to get involved.
“Students should organize, and they should organize their own plan if the university doesn’t have one,” Flores said.
She mentioned her team often alerts the community to the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, and they take pictures as well as chant things at them to make them leave.
All people, regardless of citizenship, have rights, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. People have the right to remain silent, and they must express the desire to use that right aloud. Students do not have to consent to a search of themselves or their belongings and do not have to answer questions about their citizenship.
If detained by ICE, students still have the right to consult with a lawyer but will have to search for one themselves. The National Immigration Law Center recommends memorizing the phone numbers of trusted friends, family members and lawyers. Any documentation showing legal status such as a green card should be carried at all times. If a student is in the process of obtaining legal status and has an open immigration court case or pending asylum application, they should carry immigration papers that demonstrate that. Lastly, if a student has no legal status, but has lived in the U.S for two years they should carry mail that shows their home address and rental contract information if applicable. All immigrants are encouraged to carry red cards, which can be found on many centers on campus, or printed at home.
Feature image courtesy of Victoria Mejicanos
