Immigration Enforcement on Campus

Dear Campus Community,

Please read this important information, so you are equipped to navigate interactions with immigration enforcement officials in the event they enter our campus to execute a federal immigration order. You can find all of the resources outlined on this webpage.

First and foremost, should you learn that an immigration officer is expected on campus, or you are approached by an immigration official on campus, please refer them to Assistant Vice President and Chief of Police, Maricela Gonzalez, who is our designated campus official. Chief Gonzalez can be reached at 661-654-2677 (non-emergency) or 661-654-2111 (emergency). Chief Gonzalez and Lieutenant Greg Kinder have also been designated as the individuals who are responsible for verifying the legality of any warrants, court orders and/or subpoenas that may be provided by a federal immigration officer. It is important to notify Chief Gonzalez and to inform the enforcement official that you are not obstructing their process, but need to consult with appropriate campus designees. 

Lori A. Blodorn, J.D., SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Vice President, People and Culture has been designated as the point of contact for employees who may or could be subject to an immigration order or inquiry on campus. She can be reached by calling (661) 654-2266 or at hr@csub.edu or lblodorn@csub.edu. If you are uncomfortable calling Chief Gonzalez regarding an immigration enforcement action, you may also contact Ms. Blodorn directly.

Ms. Blodorn has also been designated as the individual who will notify the emergency contact(s) of any faculty or staff member who has been taken into custody as a result of an immigration enforcement action. Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students, Emily Poole Callahan will be responsible for notifying the emergency contact of any student who has been taken into custody as a result of an immigration enforcement action. Ms. Callahan can be reached at (661) 654-2680 or at epoole1@csub.edu.

 The Chancellor’s Office has updated its guidance documents and resources to ensure all students and employees have the necessary support should an enforcement action happen on our campus. This updated information is publicly available on the CSU’s website. The CSU has also created a set of Frequently Asked Questions for CSU employees about federal immigration enforcement actions on university property.

Employee, student and personally identifiable information in university records are protected by a variety of privacy rights and university policies–including the Family Education Rights & Privacy Act [FERPA] and privacy rights of personnel records.

University employees are required to maintain the confidentiality of personal and personally identifiable information, and records containing such information.

If you are approached or detained by immigration enforcement officials, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) offers a Know Your Rights Red Card, which is designed to help individuals communicate their rights in encounters with immigration officials. You can obtain a Red Card at the CSUB Dreamers Resource Center (DRC). Stop by the DRC in the Rohan Building (near the Kegley Center and CSUB Counseling Center) to pick up a Red Card at your convenience or download a digital copy of the Red Card, using the following link: Red Cards / Tarjetas Rojas | Immigrant Legal Resource Center | ILRC.

For your reference, you can also find attached our CSUB University Police Department Policy 421, dealing with Immigration Violations and UPD’s guidelines relating to immigration and interacting with federal immigration officials in the CSUB UPD’s Policy Manual.

Thank you for your continued efforts to support our students and campus community.

Sincerely,

CSU Bakersfield

1. Campus police officers will not contact, detain, question or arrest an individual solely based on suspected undocumented immigration status or to discover the immigration status of any individual, and University Police (UPD) will not undertake joint efforts with federal immigration enforcement authorities to investigate, detain or arrest individuals for violation of federal immigration law.
   

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   We will limit access to personal information about students, faculty, and staff, as permitted by law. All requests for private information about students are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). If presented with a warrant or subpoena, the party should be referred to University Police. 
   

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   All requests for collaboration with immigration agencies for non-enforcement activities (e.g. host or participate in campus events, job fairs, etc.) will require prior approval.
   

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   University Police will be responsible for receiving and responding to any notification related to immigration enforcement. They will verify the legality of any warrant, court order, or subpoena, and only permit access to nonpublic areas of the campus upon presentation of a valid judicial warrant.
   

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   If an undocumented student is detained, deported, or unable to attend to their academic requirements due to a federal immigration order, we will make all reasonable efforts to assist the student in:
   
   1. Retaining eligibility for financial aid, exemption from nonresident tuition fees, fellowship stipends, and other benefits the student has been awarded or received.
      
   2. Reenrolling at the same academic status as departure if/when the student can return to the university. 

Learn more about AB 21, a California law designed to support undocumented students, staff, and faculty at the state’s public colleges and universities by safeguarding access to education and protecting against potential immigration enforcement on campus.