Since January, Trump has continued his legacy of cracking down on mass deportations. Since his inauguration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested approximately 8,000 immigrants across the country.
According to data provided by the Las Positas College website from 2019, they have over 150 students lacking legal status as U.S. residents. Unfortunately for these students, LPC does not have an on-campus safe space such as a Dream Center or an UndocuLiasion to seek refuge.
According to Alain Olavarrieta, math professor and UndocuAlly task force co-chair, Las Positas is currently in the process of hiring a new Dream Center coordinator and implementing measures for potential ICE raids. “Talks are still ongoing,” says Olavarrieta.
The chancellor of the Las Positas and Chabot campuses gave out a statement acknowledging the negative impact of Trump’s executive orders targeting undocumented residents. Chancellor Gerhard along with President Dyrell Foster and President of Chabot College Jamal Cooks have claimed a commitment to keep all individuals on campus safe and assured the community that they will not be cooperating with ICE.
Trump’s administration began doling out draconian executive orders as soon as he entered office. One order reversed a policy prohibiting ICE agents from entering schools, hospitals and churches.
The directive was first enacted in 2011 preventing ICE from arresting undocumented immigrants in schools, places of worship and “sensitive areas.” Trump has revoked that directive, allowing ICE to target spaces where immigrants were previously safe from arrests.
This new policy makes immigrants without legal residency even more vulnerable. Allowing ICE to target schools, hospitals and places of worship is an obvious ploy to further intimidate and marginalize immigrants. Vulnerable individuals may now avoid using these services, as they don’t know if they will be put in danger by attending places that were previously safe.
While ICE claims to prioritize public safety, data presented by the ACLU shows that a significant portion of those detained have no criminal record. This raises serious questions about the agency’s priorities and the fairness of its enforcement tactics.
It is no secret that the immigrants the Trump administration is targeting are from Black and brown communities. Some agents have even arrested Native Americans, making it evident that ICE agents are racially profiling all Americans who are or may be perceived as Latino.
Considering how aggressive the Trump administration is when targeting immigrants, everyone else should be equally as aggressive when trying to protect them.
It is not enough to simply refuse to comply with ICE. All schools, local governments and other entities must do more to protect undocumented individuals. While it is great to see that the chancellor and school administrators are aware of the threats imposed by the Trump administration, “ongoing talks” and emails to the community are not enough.
Trump and his cronies are aggressively targeting one of the most marginalized communities in America. LPC must respond with the same intensity protecting its undocumented community members. While LPC claims to be a hispanic-serving institution, the current efforts being placed to protect Hispanic students is minimal. The school is failing to accommodate students by not having a Dream Center or enough resources to allow undocumented individuals to protect themselves.
According to Chancellor Gerhard, LPC plans on upholding the California Values Act, which prohibits campus police from cooperating with immigration enforcement or sharing personal information. AB 21 also ensures that personal information will not be disclosed to immigration officers and that they will have restricted access to college campuses.
Here are additional measures LPC can take to protect and support undocumented immigrants:
“Know your rights” training
Implement training to provide students and staff with information on how to assert their rights, what documents to carry and how to avoid unintentionally waiving their rights. The last time LPC has offered a Know Your Rights workshop was in 2019.
Emergency response plan
Develop a detailed emergency response plan in case of an ICE raid on campus. This plan should include communication protocols, designated safe spaces, and legal support resources for affected individuals.
Information dissemination
Proactively share information about ICE activity in the area and provide updates on any changes in immigration policies that may affect the college community.
Community partnerships
Collaborate with local organizations and legal service providers to offer additional resources and support to undocumented students and their families.
Financial assistance
Offer financial assistance to undocumented students who may be detained or deported, helping them with legal fees, bail or other related expenses.
LPC should take all of these measures to proactively protect undocumented students. The school can provide a safer environment for them and show the community that it is willing to do anything and everything it can to resist the Trump administration’s racist and authoritarian policies.
***
Top photo: Protestor holding the Mexican flag and bullhorn at a protest in CSU Stanislaus on Feb. 2. Hundreds gathered to protest the Trump administration’s anti immigrant policies. (Photo courtesy of Central Valley BIPOC Coalition)
Sabrina Hossain is the Social Media Editor for The Express. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @WritersBlock678.
