Sacramento State's policies for ICE criticized. Faculty urges more support for undocumented students
Published in News & Features
Sacramento State faculty fired back against a recent university statement intended to reassure undocumented students by unleashing a series of emails addressed to the administration and its president.
The internal conflict was set off by a Jan. 24 campus-wide email from the Office of the Provost intended to highlight the school’s commitment to the undocumented community and policies amid rising immigration enforcement fears. But an email thread ensued four days later with several faculty members who urged for stronger support and further clarity about the campus’ policy regarding immigration enforcement.
Some professors took issue with a part of the statement that said “faculty should not interfere if ICE personnel come into their classrooms” and immediately call an official from human resources or the dean of students. Others believed the statement should have included that warrants are required to enter college classrooms as the current wording left faculty unclear if judicial orders are necessary.
Araceli Feliz, an associate professor in educational leadership and policy studies, went as far as to call Sacramento State leadership “anti-DACA, anti-immigrant, anti-indigenous, anti-Xicanx, anti-Latinx,” in a follow-up email responding to the statement.
The incident highlights the tension and caution at higher education institutions as they navigate a second Donald Trump presidency. Last month, his administration removed restrictions that had prevented U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from conducting operations at schools and other “sensitive places.”
Legal ramifications must be considered in Sacramento State’s messaging given the new presidential administration, said Carlos Nevarez, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. Nevarez, who authored the Jan. 24 email, told The Sacramento Bee that the “careful approach” should not be mistaken for a lack of support.
“I was talking in code if you will,” Nevarez said in an interview Friday. “Why? To once again try to protect our community.”
Sacramento State President Luke Wood urged similar caution while responding to some of the faculty concerns on the email thread. Wood declined an on-the-record interview.
“I would love to communicate more in writing, but have to be very careful,” Wood wrote in a follow-up email Jan. 28 to suggest an in-person meeting with faculty.
“The actions directed towards undocumented people clearly disalign with our values and are meant to intimidate. Please know we are working around the clock on this,” Wood ended the email.
The meeting, which was held on Monday, did not allow media access. Sacramento State did not respond to questions concerning its Jan. 24 statement, further clarity on its policy for allowing ICE to enter classrooms or faculty concerns that the university is not supporting its undocumented students enough.
‘We are all scared’
The Jan. 24 email begins with the university noting the “heightened fear and anxiety” faced by undocumented students and reaffirming its commitment to creating a “safe and supportive environment.”
“It is crucial that we, as a community, stand together to support, protect, and advocate on behalf of our fellow Hornets,” Nevarez wrote.
The core of the dispute comes during the middle of the email in a phrase that states “although faculty should not interfere if ICE personnel come into their classrooms, any contact from ICE should be communicated immediately.”
Feliz said the wording suggested faculty allow ICE officers access into classrooms without questioning their motives or legal grounds.
“That part implies that we are to allow them access and then call,” Feliz said in an interview on Monday. “It’s out of order. We should protect them, find out if they even should be given access. That’s not the way it was messaged.”
Feliz said her comments criticizing Sacramento State leadership only came after what she felt was an unwillingness to “issue a correction over people’s concerns.” She referenced Wood’s response, which called for a future meeting instead of addressing the concerns about the policy immediately.
“We needed clarification on that statement,” Feliz said.
Feliz also questioned why the Jan. 24 statement did not include a portion about the need for judicial warrants to enter classrooms.
While Sacramento State does not have the authority to prohibit federal immigration enforcement officers from going on campus, public access is limited in certain areas. Access to nonpublic areas — including administrative or faculty offices, classrooms in session and research laboratories — is restricted without a warrant, according to the California State University system.
CSUs have differed on how to report immigration activity on campus. California State University, Dominguez Hills recommends students refer federal agents to the university’s police department.
ICE did not respond to a request for comment about its immigration enforcement policies in college classrooms.
Kevin Johnson, the former dean of UC Davis’ School of Law, said there are no clear guidelines on what happens if immigration enforcement arrives on campus.
“It is somewhat of a gray area, but I don’t see any restrictions in the law on them going into classrooms,” Johnson said.
Manuel Barajas, a professor of sociology, said he was in disbelief when he read the “problematic” sentence in the Jan. 24 email. Some of these issues stem from the lack of Latino representation at the campus leadership level, Barajas added. Like many campuses across California, Sacramento State has struggled to match its Latino student population with teaching and leadership positions.
“What was stated was just essentially opening Sac State to ICE invasions,” said Barajas, adding that the university should not welcome or assist federal immigration agents on campus.
Some faculty members, like Amber Gonzalez, said they have no issue with the Jan. 24 statement. Her frustration stems from the colleagues who launched the accusations at leadership.
“Referring to them as anti-anything is extremely problematic,” said Gonzalez, who is a professor of child and adolescent development.
She concurred with Nevarez, saying that she appreciates campus leadership’s caution with its written statements. She said that public universities are in a different situation compared to local school districts, some of which have very publicly affirmed their support for undocumented students.
Many universities, like Sacramento State, are open campuses and subject to federal funding.
“There are people on campus that want certain things said and if we say things a certain way we may put a target on us,” Gonzalez said. “At the end of the day, we need to protect our students, faculty and community.”
“I also recognize we are all scared,” Gonzalez added. “We need to give each other a lot of grace and hold each other tight. This is all new territory.”
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