By Noemi Orozco, Feb. 11, 2025
Following a report by the Los Angeles Times of a “large scale” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation expected in LA at the end of February, and reports of raid on Temple Avenue, Cal Poly Pomona students are growing concerned for their safety on and off campus.
According to California State University’s official website, all students enrolled in a CSU are ensured a higher education regardless of their immigration status; however, all public areas are open to federal enforcement officers, including CPP’s main quad and walkways.
Further clarification about the limits in which ICE can intrude campus was made clear in a campus-wide email sent via University News Feb. 7. ICE agents are not permitted to disturb non-public areas without a valid judicial warrant in hand, such as residential housing, in-session classrooms, private meeting rooms and employee offices.
CSU students and employees are also not required to grant unwarranted federal authorities’ permission to enter disclosed areas as well, including professors during in-person instruction and office hours.
University Police Department Lieutenant Jose de Jesus Plasencia Jr. confirmed if his team were dispatched to a related call, they would adhere to the guidelines set by the CSU Chancellor’s Office.
“Our involvement would be kind of what we call a ‘keep the peace,’” said Plasencia. “Hopefully, our presence there can assist the community and make sure that whatever it is that’s occurring gets resolved in a manner where nobody gets hurt.”
Plasencia added CSU police officers have no right to contact, detain or arrest individuals based on suspected undocumented status and will solely assist in keeping interactions civil and help with the validation of presented warrants or immigration enforcement documents.
“We understand that jurisdiction over immigration laws falls under the federal government and not under us as a state university police department,” Plasencia said.
From there, further verification of the legality of any warrant, court order or subpoena would be sent to Jason Rodriguez, the university’s chief of staff and the associate vice president of Administrative Services.
Students and employees should contact Rodriguez by phone or via email if asked by an immigration officer for confidential records and should inform any approaching officers they lack the authority to cooperate with their instructions.
Just outside the university, a Pomona woman was detained by law enforcement officers in a video obtained by Fox 11 News Jan. 29. The woman had no prior criminal record, according to the same report.
“It’s a violation of privacy and a violation of what the U.S. should stand for,” said civil engineering student Zara Garcia.
Garcia, a part of the large demographic of first-generation Latino students at CPP, said her peers and classmates “walk on eggshells” due to a lack of communication between the administration and students about possible visits from immigration officers.
“Not a single one of my professors has said anything about the ICE raids,” Garcia said. “It’s mainly been a topic of conversation amongst students, and not even they know what to do.”
If faculty are unaware of what to do if ICE agents come to their classrooms or confront them about a student’s immigration status, they can complete a two-part UndocuAlly training in March.
According to Marlene Melinte, an adviser for the College of Education and Integrative Studies who attended the program in 2015, the training consisted of discussing relevant laws and policies, educational scenarios, a robust question-and-answer session, an overall evaluation and an ally pledge.
Upon completion, participating administrators receive a decal and are encouraged to display it on their office windows to inform Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals students about their allyship.
CPP’s Division of Student Affairs responded to students who may feel threatened by ongoing policy changes via email Jan. 30, linking inclusive resources to immigration enforcement.
Students can find many references on the new website, such as immigration preparedness toolkits, who to contact for information, mental health support services and printable red cards. The cards include specific rights and protections for anyone on U.S. soil, regardless of immigration status, to defend themselves from ICE, and they are available in both English and Spanish.
Always keep the card on hand and use it when approached by ICE officers. If stopped, hand the card to the officer and exercise your right to remain silent.
Free legal services are also offered to CPP students and employees through the university’s longtime legal service provider CARECEN. Services include general consultations, DACA renewals, family petitions, adjustment of status and removal defense.
“They (CARECEN) are providing a lot of different resources to students, so that they’re able to figure out their next steps if needed, because every case is different,” said Leticia Guzman Scott, the executive director of Student Support and Equity programs.
Guzman, who also works with CPP’s Undocumented Student Services, noted the Bronco Dreamers Resource Center is open to all students seeking assistance, including one-on-on consolations.
“Whether you’re an alumni, whether you’re a current student, if you’re first-generation, if you’re Latina, if you’re any student that’s going through anything, we are here for you, and we want you to be successful,” Guzman Scott said.
For more information on student and employee support services, visit the Division of Student Affairs website.
For more information on staying protected against enforcement, visit www.ilrc.org.
Feature image courtesy of Tristan Ng Chee
