By Archangel Apolonio, Staff Reporter
I have been disappointed by what seems to be a lack of urgency by the university to issue guidance in the event of a federal ICE raid. I’ve found myself wondering whether the administration or Campus Police are committed to protecting students, particularly those who are undocumented.
ICE—Immigration & Customs Enforcement—has a long history of using excessive force and deceptive tactics. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, ICE agents have sometimes misrepresented themselves or used intimidation and fake stories to entrap people or gather information. The agency also has a history of targeting people from traditionally marginalized groups—so-called “minority” communities.
Many students at Dominguez Hills come from such communities, and I know some of them are concerned that campus might not be safe. The university has a responsibility to protect our community from abuse and injustice, especially the most vulnerable among us.
Shortly after the start of this semester, CSUDH emailed the campus community to let them know the administration was “committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment” regardless of citizenship status. The email included basic guidance on what students should do if approached by immigration enforcement, but honestly, the tone came across as rather aloof.
Another email, titled “Immigration Enforcement Actions on Campus,” caused some students to believe a raid had occurred on campus—this just caused more fear and uncertainty to spread. Subsequent guidance from the administration since then has carried a similar tone, in my view.
I think a more constructive title could have been “Understanding immigration policies and your rights” or “Resources and legal protections for immigrants on campus.” That would have at least offered a bit more reassurance.
Trust can be a delicate thing—it’s not something that can be built upon generic-sounding emails or hollow guarantees and promises. Undocumented students want to know the university has their back no matter what. I wonder, has CSUDH President Parham visited the Immigration Justice Center on campus lately? Has he asked how his administration can best support students and their families at this time? Has his team reached out to students who may be affected by the Trump administration’s policies to understand their concerns?
Undocumented Toros are concerned about the presence of Campus Police. Given their role, it’s hard to trust that they would protect them from ICE rather than comply with their actions and directives. The idea of calling the police on the police seems contradictory and counterproductive. How can we rely on a department that ultimately works within the same system that criminalizes our presence?
Although federal law protects students under FERPA—the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act—it’s hard to know whether the administration would uphold the rights of undocumented students without clear policies and reassurances.
Since CSUDH is public, ICE could come onto the grounds without resistance. Students—undocumented or otherwise—could be caught up in a raid simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. If that happened, it would just confirm to our community that our campus just isn’t safe.
It’s way past time that Dominguez Hills went beyond emails and took concrete steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our campus community. Here’s what I think could be useful:
- Campus Police should host a workshop to address concerns about law enforcement on campus. This could go a long way toward building trust and demonstrating transparency. Undocumented Toros would feel protected rather than surveilled, hopefully.
- CSUDH leaders should partner with the IJC to train faculty, staff, and students on best practices for supporting undocumented Toros. This should include seminars on legal protections and available resources.
- Administrators, faculty, staff, and students should attend “Know your rights” workshops, which provide vital information about immigration law and safety strategies. Having university leaders present would demonstrate solidarity to policymakers.
- Establish clear guidelines on how CSUDH will respond to the presence of ICE on campus, rather than putting the onus on undocumented Toros. The administration must issue a firm statement detailing the steps it will take to prevent federal agencies from accessing student records and detaining students on campus grounds.
Undocumented students make up a significant part of the CSUDH community. Yet, many feel ignored, unsafe, and unheard during these uncertain times. The university has a responsibility to take a proactive stance in supporting them—not just through emails, but through concrete actions that ensure their protection, safety, well being.
I hope CSUDH leadership will recognize the urgency of the moment and take meaningful action to create a welcoming environment for all. Until then, the fear remains, and some are left wondering will CSUDH stand with them, or will they be left to face ICE alone?
