Ahead of the Spring 2025 semester, Los Rios Community College District Chief of Police Harvey Woo reminded staff and students of their rights if federal immigration authorities show up on their campus.
The reminder comes after growing concerns about mass deportations, following President Donald Trump’s executive order titled “Protecting The American People Against Invasion.”
The order states: “It is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens…through lawful incentives and detention capabilities.”
The order, signed on Jan. 20, is effective immediately, with federal agencies required to report on progress in 90 days, according to NPR.
The order also allows ICE to enter “sensitive places,” including schools and churches, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Woo sent out an email on Jan. 16 to members of the Los Rios District stating, “The Los Rios Police Department wants you to know that your safety and security are more important to us than your immigration status.”
Los Rios Police Capt. Chris Mora said the LRPD plans on following the California Values Act if any federal agencies show up on campus.
The California Values Act, referred to as California’s ‘sanctuary law,’ bars local police from investigating, interrogating, or arresting people for the purposes of immigration enforcement, according to Cal Matters.
“There is certainly some homework involved with gaining knowledge and how to deal with information if they [ICE] show up on campus,” Mora said.
The email included a district webpage for faculty, staff and managers that has detailed instructions on what to do if ICE or any other federal law enforcement agency comes to any college or district facility.
The website states that all LRCCD employees must follow the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act which, “protects the privacy of student educational records and all personally identifiable information in those records.”
The district, and all employees, cannot share information about students without the student's written consent. The district will also not be expending any Los Rios law enforcement on immigration enforcement or information gathering, according to the website.
In the “unlikely event” that any federal law enforcement agency shows up to a classroom or work area, staff and faculty are told to request a warrant, document the interaction, call the Los Rios Police Department and remind students of their right to remain silent and request legal representation, according to the instructions on the district website.
Alejandro Torres, a Dream Center specialist at Cosumnes River College, said that the most important thing people can do right now is be knowledgeable and spread the message as often as they can.
The dream center, located in CC-162, is handing out “know your rights” cards for anyone who wants them. The cards contain information on rights that all people have, regardless of immigration status.
“There’s a lot of fear, which is completely understandable, but we really want to spread awareness,” Torres said.
Increased federal enforcement leads to higher anxiety and fear among groups of immigrant youth, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Evan Freshley, a 19-year-old biology major, said that he isn’t really sure what to do if ICE shows up on campus.
“It might put me on edge and feel as if I have less freedom or am under surveillance,” Freshley said.
Mora said that if agents show up on campus, LRPD will be dispatched to speak with agents and verify what they’re on campus for, and determine if they have come to serve a warrant or an ICE detainer.
The LRCCD offers free immigration legal services available to staff, students and faculty through California Community Colleges in collaboration with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, based in Los Angeles.