Sacramento State is undeniably strengthened by the vibrant presence and vital contributions of our undocumented and international students, faculty, and staff. These colleagues and students make everything we do at Sacramento State better: groundbreaking research, innovative teaching, cross-cultural exchange, global dialogue, and more.
We are committed to fostering an environment where everyone—regardless of origin—feels welcomed, supported, secure, and empowered to thrive. However, we must also recognize that the national political climate and recent events targeting immigrant and undocumented communities have heightened anxiety and fear for many people. We extend our support to the members of our Hornet family whose loved ones have been detained or otherwise directly affected by recent events and encourage anyone in need of support, guidelines, or recommendations to visit our immigration resources webpage.
As actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) become more frequent, it is important for members of the campus community to be informed about the processes that we would anticipate using in the event of federal immigration enforcement actions on campus.
If you observe or are approached by ICE officers, immediately contact one of the following designated campus administrators:
⇒Machelle Martin, Sr. AVP for Human Resources, 916-278-4400, martin@csus.edu
⇒Bill Hebert, Dean of Students, 916-278-6060, deanofstudents@csus.edu
After business hours, contact Machelle Martin at the number above, or the University Police Department at 916-278-6000.
Upon receiving a report of ICE activity on campus, our designated campus administrators will work to confirm ICE presence and verify if immigration enforcement action is taking place on campus. The appropriate campus administrators and, if warranted, our Campus Activities Response Team (CART), will respond to the location where the immigration enforcement action is taking place. Consistent with established communication protocols, we will send appropriate campuswide notifications about law enforcement activities on campus. Members of our campus community should avoid these areas and should not interfere with law enforcement agencies.
Like any member of the public, ICE officers can access public areas of our campus. Public spaces are those areas of campus that anyone can enter, places where you would not have an assumption of privacy such as walkways, quads, and parking lots. Private spaces are generally those areas of campus where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy and where access is typically restricted or requires permission. This includes residence halls, classrooms when classes are in session, and faculty and staff offices. Visit our immigration resources webpage for more details about public and private spaces.
If you are presented with a judicial warrant to enter a private space, you should not attempt to determine its validity yourself. Instead, direct the agent to the campus designated administrators listed above. To learn more about how to respond to requests to access nonpublic spaces on campus, review this presentation by the CSU, which employees can access through their CSU Learn portal, or review this FAQ for CSU employees about immigration enforcement actions on campus.
Knowing and asserting your rights calmly is important. Visit our immigration webpage to download and print a Know Your Rights card with suggested language to use in the event you are presented with a judicial warrant or asked to provide access to private spaces or information about any individuals.
In addition to the training provided to CSU employees available through CSU Learn, our Dreamer Resource Center Director, Kimberly Gomez, will be offering an Immigration Enforcement Actions training to all faculty, staff, and students. All managers (MPPs) will be required to complete these trainings, and other campus leaders such as department chairs are highly encouraged to participate. These training courses are designed to ensure every member of our community feels confident, informed, and supported. Details and sign-up information for campus KYR training courses will be included in the next Monday Briefing.
For more information and a list of resources for students, faculty, and staff, please visit our immigration resources webpage.
Sacramento State is a place where immigrant, LGBTQ+, undocumented, and all marginalized students, staff, and faculty members are welcome and celebrated. We are glad you are here, and we will continue to work tirelessly to create an environment that upholds dignity, belonging, and justice for all.
Sincerely,