Following the inauguration of Donald Trump, many at Las Positas College (LPC) have expressed fears regarding his proposed immigration policies.
Since taking office on Jan. 20, Trump has signed 10 executive orders cracking down on immigration, promising mass deportations and declaring a national emergency at the southern border. He has also promised to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the Obama-Era immigration policy protecting eligible childhood arrivals from deportation and allowing them to work and receive education in the US, as long as they maintain eligibility.
Despite this, LPC has maintained its commitment to protecting students under S.B. 54 and A.B. 21. Senate Bill 54, which went into effect in January 2018, prevents and limits the use of local and state law enforcement to aid in federal immigration enforcement. Assembly Bill 21 prevents college staff from sharing information regarding the citizenship status of staff and students, unless required by a judicial order.
In a joint statement with the president of Chabot College and the chancellor of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District, LPC’s President Dr. Dyrell Foster stated, “In light of recent concerns regarding potential federal immigration enforcement measures, we reaffirm our dedication to upholding the protections outlined in California’s sanctuary jurisdiction laws.”
The statement closed by vowing to uphold the district’s “commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone, regardless of immigration status.”
Still, many at LPC, including faculty, have expressed concern for the undocumented community. Alain Olavarrieta, a former DACA recipient and math instructor at LPC, expressed— although he is no longer undocumented — he’s empathetic towards his students.
“I feel stressed and (anxious) for the students that I know are going through similar things that I went through when I was younger.” says Olavarietta. “It’s stuff that a lot of them didn’t have a say in …”
Olavarrieta also noted his frustration with Donald Trump’s promise to end birthright citizenship, a clause in the 14th amendment which was ratified following the emancipation of slavery and the end of the Civil War.
In his first week in office, Donald Trump signed an executive order to revoke birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented parents or those with temporary status. In the days following his decision, the Trump administration was hit with several lawsuits, including one from the American Civil Liberties Union.
“It’s a dog-whistle for far-right extremists, in my opinion. I hope it doesn’t materialize,” Olavarietta said.
The college currently has plans to strengthen its protections for its undocumented community, as LPC is a “sanctuary campus.” A sanctuary campus is a higher education institution with policies in place to protect undocumented students.
However, many questions and concerns still go unanswered. For instance, many wonder what procedures the college will follow in the event immigration authorities come to campus with a warrant or judicial order.
Olavarietta notes that while LPC used to have a more “robust support system,” they are in the process of building it back through several means, such as hiring a new Dream Center Coordinator, which will happen in the “next few months,” Olavarietta said.
The new Dreamer Center is slated to open in the 2400 building. LPC also offers mental health services for undocumented students.
“I can tell that students who come here really want to better themselves… I find it very demeaning to say that certain folks deserve less because of the…position… they happen to be born (into) or the decisions (that) their parents or they had to make based on economic circumstances,” Olavarietta said of his students.
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TOP PHOTO: As the Trump Administration takes a hard-line stance against immigration, many express their concerns for the undocumented. LPC maintains its commitment as a sanctuary campus. (Illustration by Mel Llamas/ The Express)
Raina Dent is a Staff Writer for The Express. Follow her on X, formally Twitter, @_rainasafiya
