Over the summer, Cal State LA allowed professors the option to teach classes online and excused absences amidst the ongoing raids happening in Los Angeles. Following the new Supreme Court ruling made early September, ICE’s presence on campus remains a fear for many parts of the Cal State LA community, as it is highly serving the Hispanic/Latino population.

Before the spring 2025 semester started, Cal State LA issued a message to the University community following Trump’s inauguration. 

“Cal State LA remains committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all students, faculty, and staff, regardless of their immigration status,” according to a Cal State LA Immigration warning from earlier this year following the inauguration of Trump.  

This new order directly affects Angelenos across the city, including the Cal State LA community. The college has a 75% Hispanic student population, according to spring 2025 enrollment at the school. 

Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed multiple bills that would aim to protect immigrants in targeted areas from ICE and Border Patrol, such as hospitals and schools. 

One of the bills legislators passed primarily focuses on protecting school children, grades K-12, and college campuses. If federal agents were to make themselves present or conduct immigrant operations, this bill requires school administrators to notify families and the student body.

The other bill that was signed by Newsom would aim to help and protect healthcare officials. Immigration officials will need a search warrant and court order to enter nonpublic spaces in hospitals and clinics. 

Additionally, Newsom will also sign a bill that is the first in the nation. This bill will strictly prohibit federal and local law enforcement agents from hiding their identities. Throughout the raids, federal agents have had masks covering their identities. Once this bill is passed, it will no longer be allowed, except for some exceptions for safety. 

Amidst the raids happening over the summer, the University’s Immigration Issues and Resources page was updated with new information informing the community about changes to immigration policies and concerns it has raised for the community. 

“If someone is approached by an immigration officer, or you become aware that immigration enforcement activity is occurring or about to occur on campus,” Executive Director of Strategic Communications Erik Hollins said. “The process to notify Cal State LA is on the resource page.”

Hollins notes that “at this time, we have no information that indicates Cal State LA is a specific target”. Nonetheless, the University remains committed to keeping its school and community safe and educated. They have posted the process across the University’s campus and have provided printable cards with further instructions. 

Since Trump’s return to office, the Trump administration has conducted its first large-scale immigration raids led by ICE and Border Patrol in sanctuary cities, including Los Angeles. 

The city of Los Angeles has a population of approximately 1.8 million Hispanic people, according to the 2020 census, and 15,000 of those are undocumented, according to a reliable organization. 

More than 15,000 people were detained by ICE this June, causing fear, anxiety, and despair to Angelenos across the city. Trump and his administration aim to deport over 1 million immigrants.  

ICE has detained nearly 200,000 people, this mass deportation effort is making record-breaking numbers of deportations that have not been seen in over a decade.