CPP’s Billy Chat to be used for ICE alerts
By Kaia James, October 14, 2025
Cal Poly Pomona’s Associated Student Incorporated unanimously passed a resolution Oct. 1 condemning the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In the approved resolution, ASI called for CPP to give “grace” to students who may be facing challenges amid rising ICE activity, such as trouble commuting to campus, inability to be present during instructional time and issues with housing. ASI declared the university has a moral and civic duty to protect the welfare and rights of students and should aid in preserving their dignity.
ASI President Amiyah Ellsworth added members discussed extensively how they wanted to frame their statement and wanted to do more than express sympathy or acknowledge there’s something wrong.
“There are leaders on this campus who are advocating for (students) passionately and have been taking time to educate themselves on immigration and ICE,” Ellsworth said.
Another major component of the resolution is ASI reminded CPP administrators to follow Senate Bill 98, the Sending Alerts to Families in Education Act, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom Sept. 20.
The SAFE Act mandates K-12 and higher education institutions, including California State Universities, to issue alerts if ICE activity is on or near campus. In CPP’s case, the alert would come as an automated text message through Billy Chat, according to the resolution.
ASI also referred students to CSU-wide and CPP services within the resolution, including free legal services from CARECEN College Legal Services, immigration preparedness toolkits, short-term support for students through CPP’s Counseling & Psychological Services, Know Your Right’s training and red cards, as well as support through Undocumented Students Services.
With this part of the resolution, Ellsworth wanted to reassure students CPP has these policies and people in place to assist them if ICE were ever to infringe on students, and she believes CPP is prepared if ICE was ever to enter the campus.
The resolution is meant to not only address student concerns but to create a dialogue surrounding the fear students may be living in as a result of increased ICE activity. This was an important initiative to ASI leadership, which is why this resolution condemning ICE’s actions has been in the works since their first ASI Board of Directors meeting June 25, Ellsworth said.
The resolution on ICE’s actions took time to complete as it had to be approved and looked over by a legal team and had to be in alignment with ASI’s values, according to Senator Pro Temp Madison Navarro.
Navarro explained ASI members were recommended in the past to keep their statements on the growing ICE activity limited, even when students would ask their opinion on the matter,for the sake of not spreading possible misinformation, Navarro said.
However, Ellsworth and Vice President Bia Machain released a video addressing the then concerns over the CPP Career Fair, that was ultimately “postponed.” Both ASI members encouraged students who expressed their frustrations toward U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s involvement with the fair.Attorney General Cristian Marroquin and Secretary of External Affairs Alejandra Lopez-Sanchez authored the initial resolution together. Marroquin presented the final resolution at the Board of Directors meeting Oct. 1.
After months of delegation and research, in his introduction Marroquin took time to acknowledge the input and contributions of the full Board of Directors, calling it a collective effort. Undocumented Students Services also supported the resolution and provided a presentation of what they offer to students and faculty, according to Navarro.
In the introduction, Marroquin also reinforced the recent actions committed by ICE not only are happening at a national level but affect CPP students directly, spreading widespread fear and ripping families apart.
Marroquin also stated students knowing what rights they have is imperative at this time. According to Marroquin, students should know, per California laws and CSU policies, campus police cannot assist ICE on any matter related to a student’s status or personal information.
ICE is also not allowed to enter non-public campus spaces without a warrant. These spaces include private residences, employee specific zones of a business, faculty and administrator offices, classrooms in session, locker rooms and dormitory buildings.
“We want everyone to get comfortable talking about it, because it’s happening,” Marroquin said.
In Marroquin’s classes, he said his peers are actively talking about what is going on with ICE, and they don’t feel they know what to do, so they ask their professors.
While he knows the topic can be a bit taboo at times, Marroquin wants students to know ASI supports students and hopes that by passing the resolution, students feel ASI has their backs.
“We have a majority of Hispanic people here on campus, so of course that is our call to action to do that,” he said.
ASI meetings are open to the CPP community, and students can attend. To know what is going to be discussed at a BOD meeting, their agenda is accessible in advance.
The next ASI meeting is scheduled for Oct. 15 from 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m. in the Student Business Center, in the England Evans conference room. Community members can also join via Zoom.
Feature image courtesy of Bren Belmonte
