U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained the father of a student at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria on campus grounds Monday morning.

In September, ICE agents detained a San Diego City College student only steps away from the building where he takes classes, prompting the college to install signs saying immigration enforcement activity is prohibited on campus.

Nearly two years ago, the federal government rescinded a longstanding guideline that limited immigration enforcement in so-called “sensitive” areas, including colleges and universities. Amid a surge in detentions under President Donald Trump, arrests have increased near schools and colleges — including at Allan Hancock College.

“We strongly denounce immigration enforcement activity on our college campuses,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian said. “Our colleges are places of learning and opportunity. Students should be able to walk onto a campus without fear that they or someone they love could be detained.”

“When immigration enforcement enters an educational space, fear enters with it — into classrooms, families and communities. That undermines the very purpose of our colleges. California’s community colleges serve everyone. Our students and families belong here. We will stand with them and protect our campuses as places where every student can learn and pursue a better future,” Christian said.

A spokesperson from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office said there have, so far, been “incidents” at a total of four community college campuses. These range from using a college’s parking lot for staging to detaining an individual after they ran onto a campus, the spokesperson said.

Predicting an uptick in immigration enforcement on campuses, the state has passed laws and created model policies with the goal of keeping its higher education institutions safe and accessible to all California residents, regardless of immigration status.

In a guide updated by California Attorney General Rob Bonta last month, the state directed colleges and universities to handle student data carefully, notify students when immigration enforcement is confirmed on campus, and deny immigration officers access to nonpublic areas without a judicial warrant. By state law, the California State University, California Community Colleges and all higher education institutions that qualify for Cal Grant financial aid must adopt these policies. The University of California system and all other postsecondary institutions are also encouraged to do so.

When ICE is on campus

If students or staff learn that immigration enforcement officers are expected to enter campus or already have, they must notify the office of the chancellor of president and campus police, per the guide.

Law enforcement officers do not require a warrant to enter a public part of campus. However, under state law, colleges should only comply with a request from an immigration officer engaged in enforcement activity for access to nonpublic areas of campus — like a dorm room — if they have a signed judicial warrant. An ICE administrative warrant, notice to appear or subpoena for evidence do not require immediate compliance.

If the officer says immediate circumstances exist and demands access to a nonpublic part of campus, college representatives should not refuse their orders and immediately contact the designated administrator.

When the presence of immigration enforcement is confirmed on campus, colleges and universities must notify the campus community, per a law in effect till January 2031. The notice must include the date and time immigration enforcement was confirmed, the location, and a link to resources. It should not include any personally identifiable information.

Higher education institutions, per state law, must train their staff for possible interaction with immigration enforcement officers so they are prepared in the event of an inquiry.

What if a student is detained?

If there is reason to suspect a student or staff member has been detained as part of immigration enforcement activity, college officials must notify the person’s emergency contact and designate a staff person as a point of contact for them. Colleges must maintain a contact list of lawyers who offer immigration services and provide these resources to students who request it.

If a student is detained or deported, college officials must try to help the student retain their eligibility for financial aid, research funding, housing stipends and other benefits the student was awarded, per the state policy. Students subject to immigration orders must also be allowed to re-enroll when they are able to return to the college.

How do schools handle data?

College officials must obtain a student’s written consent before disclosing educational records. No student information is to be disclosed for immigration enforcement purposes without a court order or subpoena, according to state law.

The policy directs higher education institutions not to create a list of student names linked with immigration status or retain sensitive information, like a student or parent’s Social Security number, for longer than necessary. In addition, students should be allowed to choose not to provide immigration or citizenship status information to the institution without it affecting admissions or enrollment.

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