President Donald Trump’s inauguration marked new levels of immigration enforcement, sparking fear and uncertainty within immigrant communities across the nation. New policies, expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authority and revoked temporary legal statuses left many individuals and families uncertain.
Under the specter of renewed immigration enforcement policies, the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District has emerged as a beacon of hope. New guidelines were issued to safeguard students and staff from escalated immigration enforcement.
Jester Rodriguez, a student at Grossmont, said he knows firsthand the anxieties of the immigration landscape and understands the challenges many families now face.
“Knowing that you could lose everything due to something beyond your control is daunting,” Rodriguez said.
His concerns were echoed by another Grossmont student, who requested to remain anonymous because of his immigration status. The student expressed feelings of constant stress and worry about the ability to continue their studies.
“It’s stressful, I’m constantly worried about whether I’ll be able to continue my studies,” the student wrote in an email. “It makes it hard to focus on my classes.”
Rodriguez offered a simple yet powerful statement: “All I could really say generally is just be open and welcoming to all these immigrated people.”
In response to the surge in enforcement activities, the district released new guidelines in December designed to protect students and staff while complying with legal requirements.
Administrative Procedure 3415 policy mandates that district personnel immediately notify the Chancellor’s Office of any immigration enforcement activity on campus to prevent unauthorized access to buildings and student residences, and to allow for a swift assessment and response.
The guidelines also prioritize the protection of student and staff rights and explicitly prohibit the release of personal information, such as home addresses and contact details, without legal authorization.
While staff are instructed not to physically interfere with immigration officers, the policy mandates careful and detailed records of all interactions to ensure accountability.
The policy further clarifies the distinction between judicial and ICE warrants. Staff were instructed to consult with the Chancellor’s Office before responding to ICE warrants.
Beyond immediate enforcement actions, the guidelines extend to the long-term wellbeing of affected students, committing to assisting students in retaining financial aid, housing and other benefits, as well as facilitating re-enrollment if detained or deported.
This commitment acknowledges the potential disruption caused by immigration enforcement and seeks to alleviate its impact, to ensure students can continue their education regardless of their circumstances.
The district encourages anyone with questions to contact the Chancellor’s Office at 619-644-7570 or Public Safety at 619-644-7654. The Chancellor’s Office is located on Grossmont’s campus in the District Office North (86-805).
