The Trump Administration has arrested more than 8,000 immigrants within the first two weeks of President Donald Trump’s second term. During his presidential campaigns and on inauguration day, Trump promised to have “millions and millions” of deportations take place.
ICE raids began in early January in Kern County, Bakersfield and have taken place in Los Angeles county. Anonymous federal law enforcement sources state that ICE is asking agents from the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles field to assist with these raids, the LA Times reports.
In response, the undocumented community is facing fear and uncertainty about their future in the U.S., including the many Fullerton College students and community members who are undocumented or from mixed status families.
The Department of Homeland Security has rescinded its 2021 guidelines, which advised ICE and California Border Patrol (CBP) against enforcing immigration laws in or near protected areas, such as “pre-school, primary or secondary school, vocational or trade school, or college or university” unless there was an imminent safety threat.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” a DHS spokesperson said in a Jan. 21 press release.
Despite the shift in national policies, Fullerton College is publicly doubling down on its support of undocumented students.
In a statement on the Fullerton College website, President Cynthia Olivo took a stance to protect student’s rights and safety against ICE. “Our campus is taking a proactive and collective approach to ensure the safety and well-being of all our students and is motivated by our shared values of inclusivity, diversity, and shared community,” she said.
Although the college is known to be an open campus, this does not give authority for ICE to access classrooms or buildings. Olivo told The Hornet that the college has updated their signage across campus, especially in key locations containing student records by putting up “authorized personnel only” signs.
There are several state laws that already protect undocumented students. The Family and Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) strictly prohibits agencies who possess students’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from releasing student data. Senate Bill 54 a.k.a. the California Values Act (2017), mandated that the California Attorney General assist California colleges and universities, K-12 schools, and other entities in responding to immigration issues. Assembly Bill 21 requests California state and community colleges and encourages UC universities to establish policies and procedures to create a campus environment that is safe and inclusive for the community regardless of immigration status.
Olivo mentioned that before the start of the spring semester, all Cypress and Fullerton College faculty attended an annual mandatory training session with workshops and a keynote speaker from the group UndocuScholars. This year’s training centered on supporting undocumented students. The college printed yellow flyers outlining four steps in case ICE is present on campus:
- Know what to do – If a federal immigration official is on campus and requests access to student information, access to campus records or entrance to a facility.
- Do not panic – Immediate compliance is not required. Our college has state legal procedures we have to follow. Immigration officers are not above state laws.
- Communicate – Politely inform the officer that you are not obstructing their process but must refer them to the proper channels for guidance and assistance.
- Notify Administration – Contact the Vice President of Student Services (VPSS) at 714-992-7073 during regular office hours. After hours, contact Campus Safety at 714-992-7777. We will ask the official to identify themselves by name, identification number, agency, and ask for a judicial order signed by a judge. **Warrant verification and subpoenas are required**
Vice President of Student Services Elizabeth Martínez told Fullerton College faculty senators on Feb. 6 that if ICE or any federal official approaches them, they should send them directly to her in the 100 building.
The undocumented students support page on the Fullerton College website provides more information on what to do when encountering police or ICE. Everyone, whether a U.S. citizen or non-citizen, has rights under the U.S. constitution. There will be various workshops from February till June that students can attend to receive legal insight. The college is also distributing “red cards” that instruct people on their rights if approached by immigration officials at home, along yellow flyers listing mental health resources and crisis lines.
Olivo stated that she reached out to the chief of Fullerton Police Department, Jon Radus, in December 2024 to discuss how the police department interacts with ICE or any other federal agencies. While the city of Fullerton itself does not declare itself as a sanctuary city, the Fullerton Police Department states on their information website, “Public Safety is the primary concern of the Fullerton Police Department, not immigration. As with any law enforcement agency in the state of California, the Fullerton Police Department is subject to California state law that restricts police departments from engaging in primary immigration enforcement.”
There are also state agencies like the California Student Aid Commission who advocate for undocumented students who wish to pursue a college degree.
California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian said community colleges will not roll back protections for any student or staff group. “Our system does not capture information on undocumented students and our colleges will not release personally identifiable student information related to immigration status unless required by judicial order,” she said in a statement provided to Fullerton College Faculty Senate.
Chancellor of North Orange County Community College District Byron D. Clift Breland addressed in an email how NOCCCD employees must not provide U.S. immigration officers with access to documents or information about NOCCCD students without an enforceable judicial warrant and/or subpoena signed by a judge. This is all part of the NOCCCD’s Protocol for Immigration Related Requests that was sent out on Jan. 31.
“We have Assembly Bill 540 and the Dream Act for California which provides protection to undocumented students so that they can study here without worry or fear for their learning to be disrupted,” said Olivo.
Under the California Student Aid Commission, Assembly Bill (AB) 540 is a California state law that allows eligible students, including undocumented students, to pay in-state tuition at California’s public colleges and universities. The California Dream Act is a package of California state laws that allow undocumented students who were brought into the U.S. as children to apply for student financial aid benefits. These students must have attended school on a regular basis and meet in-state tuition and GPA requirements.
“Our duty is always to provide access to education, and that’s going to be our duty moving forward. We’re going to do whatever we can to ensure our undocumented community feels safe and welcomed here,” said Miranda Bates, Fullerton College director of campus communications.
Fullerton College has partnered up with CARECEN, which offers legal services including direct representation, education, outreach services. They currently only offer virtual services directly to students from colleges and universities. The Grads to be Program is another free resource for undocumented and mixed-status students. Their mission is to support students’ academic journey and personal well-being.
Anyone can also look at other non-profit organizations like United We Dream and Informed Immigrant or profit organizations like UndocuProfessionals . They provide resources and guidelines on their social media platforms for all those who are being affected by the current immigration policies.
Olivo said she encourages FC students to reach out to all these resources that are available to them. “We have services available. They’ve always been available. Please use it and let us know what help is needed.”
Bates said she advises the Fullerton College community to protect their peace and energy through these challenging times: “Find ways where you can find rest and recharge, because this is going to be a long fight and it’s going to be an uphill battle.”
*This article was updated on Tue. Feb. 11, 2025 to correct that UndocuProfessionals is a profit organization not a non-profit.*
