WHEREAS, With increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity [1] and authoritative abuse and misconduct in the past year [2], a lack of due process for individuals, threats and detainments for freedom of speech, revoking of international student visas [3], alongside the detainment of students in and out of school [4] has resulted in the violation of several amendments by ICE, including the 5th and 14th, 4th [5], and the 1st;
WHEREAS, With over 17,000 international students [6] and an estimated 50,000-70,000 undocumented students in the California Community College system (the largest number of undocumented post-secondary students in California [7]), the effects of the abuse and misconduct of ICE activity have left vulnerable populations’ access to education under threat, resulting in a decrease of class engagement across California community colleges due to fears in their ability to safely continue their education [8];
WHEREAS, The California Community Colleges system has invested over $10 million to provide free immigration legal services to students across the state [9], such as Find Your Ally [10], that can be utilized to support California Community College students who are facing anxiety, fears, uncertainties, or need additional support; and
WHEREAS, an existing state law, AB419 (Connolly, 2025), “requires the governing board or body of a local educational agency to post specified information related to immigration enforcement in the administrative buildings and on the internet websites of the local educational agency and each of its schoolsites, as provided” [11]; Now therefore be it,
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community College encourage the promotion of available legal services (such as Find Your Ally) available to students across California community colleges to help protect student rights and ensure campuses continue to be a safe atmosphere and space for students to learn, grow, and continue their education to reach their academic and professional goals, both in the California Community College system and beyond;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community College advocate for the creation of a bill similar to that of AB419 (Connolly, 2025), but instead requiring community colleges' campuses to post clear, accessible information regarding students’ rights and institutional policies concerning immigration enforcement actions in the administrative buildings and on the internet websites of the community college; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community College urge student body associations to work with campus administration to ensure that campus DREAM resource center materials, such as flyers, “Know Your Rights” red cards, are properly distributed to ensure that community college students are made aware of their rights.
Citations:
[1] Immigration arrests surge by 1,500% in San Diego: 'I feel the temperature rising' https://calmatters.org/justice/2026/01/san-diego-immigration-arrest-sur…
[2] More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
[3] Understanding Recent International Student Visa Revocations and Apprehensions: Guidance for Colleges & Universities
[4] ICE detains five-year-old Minnesota boy arriving home, say school officials
[5] A U.S. citizen says ICE forced open the door to his Minnesota home and removed him in his underwear after a warrantless search | PBS News
[6] Supporting International Education Opportunities for California Community Colleges Students.
[7] New Report on Undocumented Students at CA Community Colleges –
Immigrants Rising
[8] Enrollment drop: Fears of ICE keep some ESL learners away
[9] Legal Services | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office
[10] Find Your Ally: Legal Services Appointment Portal
[11] AB-419 Educational equity: immigration enforcement