By Camila Chavarria, Staff Reporter
Phones are ringing off the hook lately at the CSUDH Immigrant Justice Center. Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House this past January, current and former students have reached out to the IJC for advice—seeking everything from job support and citizenship applications, to free legal services.
According to IJC staff, the center saw an influx of appointments over the past two months.
“We’re completely full on our appointments,” said Melanie Sandoval, an ICJ staff member. “I just had a call where a student asked if they were doing services, and I had to resort to telling them that we are only accepting emergency cases.”
With the Trump administration ramping up rhetoric around deporting undocumented residents, some Toros say they are concerned about the possibility of a raid on campus by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Compounding these concerns are what the center’s staff say is a lack of communication by university officials. Sandoval told The Bulletin the center has been working as fast as possible to address concerns.
“The only thing we’ve been told by the administration and campus is if we see ICE on campus to call the police,” Sandoval said. “We don’t see what that’ll be doing—if it’s calling the police on the police.”
Sandoval expressed concern that university administrators are not sufficiently engaged with students. She emphasized that meaningful involvement requires more than just statements of support.
In a Mar. 10 email to The Bulletin, a CSUDH spokesperson responded to concerns raised by students and faculty, stating that the administration acknowledges the “fears and uncertainty” on campus.
“The university has been proactively issuing guidance for both employees and students about their rights and responsibilities, as well as what campus support services are available to them,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier this month, Associated Students, Inc. hosted a community safety forum in a bid to address concerns circulating among Toros. Among those who attended the Mar. 3 meeting on Mar. 3 were IJC interim director Arlin Gonzalez, Campus Police Chief Carlos Velez, and university administrators. In addition to questions about ICE protocol, speakers discussed crime on campus, the condition of facilities, and police response times.
Gonzalez had her own concerns about the university’s response to these issues prior to the safety meeting. When asked by The Bulletin via email whether her perspective had changed afterward, Gonzalez said she agreed with students’ calls for greater transparency.
“Information is power, and I think this can help our students, staff, and faculty feel more prepared should a situation involving ICE happen on our campus,” Gonzalez said.
Still, fears over a potential raid may be contributing to the decline in visitors at the IJC. Staff said they’ve observed a significant drop in in-person visits this semester compared to the fall.
“Not sure what can be the cause of that, if it’s the new administration or its fear mongering, but I have noticed a decline in the center,” Sandoval said.
Despite the decline in overall visits, some students continue to spend time at the center, using it as a space to socialize and unwind.
“I really like the services that are provided here,” said Pablo Soberanis, a first-year student. “Everyone is so welcoming and kind to me when I’m here.”
The IJC’s catalog of services is not only available to Toros, but also their families. The center’s ultimate goal, Gonzalez said, is to offer support, resources, and guidance to the entire campus community.
Gonzalez concluded that helping students with the resources that they offer and informing them will ease the fear that they might have.
“Our students aren’t the only ones being impacted—immediate family members, people who are in our household and our loved ones are being impacted,” Gonzalez said. “So how can we continue to support our students and their community?”
