By Nicholas Lira and Isaac Cox, Dec. 10, 2024
Almost 87,000 undocumented students enrolled in higher education institutions in California, which makes up over a fifth of all undocumented students in the United States; they might be among the most valuable population affected by prospective measures
President-elect Donald Trump, who is to take office for a second term in January, announced a mass deportation plan and other immigration policies during his election campaign.
While many universities and cities across the U.S. are preparing to protect undocumented people, Cal Poly Pomona’s leadership has not yet communicated the exact response strategy. However, the CPP Undocumented Students Services Office claims it is committed to keeping undocumented students informed about their rights.
The Los Angeles City Council has tentatively backed a “sanctuary city” law Nov. 19, and the Los Angeles school board proclaimed the nation’s second-largest school system as a sanctuary for immigrants and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Those decisions will not prevent deportation but instruct employees and staff not to voluntarily cooperate with federal immigration enforcement officers.
In preparation for Trump’s first term in 2016, the California State University system did not declare CSU campuses as sanctuary campuses, but adopted a policy preventing the CSU from entering any agreements with state or federal immigration enforcement agencies. In an open letter to the CSU community, Timothy P. White, the CSU chancellor, said CSU police departments won’t honor immigration hold requests or will contact, detain or arrests individuals who are suspected of nothaving documents.
“We are also partnering with elected officials at the state and national level to inform and work to prevent negative developments regarding immigration for our undocumented students, including those with DACA status,” White wrote in the open letter.
Ana Sanchez, a mechanical engineering student and a member of the Mexican American Student Association on campus, said she had dealt with issues growing up as an undocumented student, mentioning how the police put fear into her and her family.
“We always were scared of the police,” Sanchez said. “We were always scared of getting pulled over. We were always scared overall because it goes on your record.”
Sanchez said it was hard for her family to be in a working environment because they were strongly mistreated, worked less than minimum wage and were working long hours with no breaks. She said the company her family was working for still owes them thousands of dollars, but her family is noncommittal to saying anything due to them feeling frightened.
While undocumented students deal with difficult circumstances in their lives, CPP has found ways to help them as much as possible. Areli Castro, the coordinator for Undocumented Students Services at CPP, said the university offers many resources at the center in addition to helping all undocumented students and the immigrant community on campus.
“We have various programs and resources available year-round that highlight and support our community,” said Castro. “Some of these programs are directed to faculty and staff, such as the UndocuAlly Training. And some are directed to our student audience, such as Undocumented and Unafraid and UndocuProfessionals. All of these programs are intended for the audience to learn, build community and develop allyship for our students.”
Castro also mentioned the Uncodumented Students Services Center works with CARECEN Legal Services to supply free immigration services to students on campus as well as faculty and staff. CARECEN is a non-profit organization based in LA, and its legal services include general consultation, DACA renewals, citizenship, family petitions, removal defense, adjustment of status, special immigration juvenile status, U Visa/T Visa and other important matters.
The university frequently hosts webinars to explain policy changes and the impact those changes will have on undocumented students. In addition to this, Castro said CPP will be hosting events and educational programs next semester that will keep the community informed.
The center also provides a scholarship called the Undocumented Student Services Scholarship, which helps provide quality and fairness in students’ education. USS is also in support of undocumented students, helping them grow in personal, professional and academic areas of their lives.
Alexis Camacho, a mathematics student, expressed her worry for the undocumented students who could be affected by possible changes; however, she knows our campus has the capability to protect students.
“I feel like CPP is a safe place for people who might need help, but I can’t say the same about everywhere else.”
While being undocumented comes with challenges, CPP offers assistance to students, faculty and staff who are undocumented and will continue to achieve their work to maximize their impact.
Featured image courtesy of Undocumented Student Services