Academic Senate Resolutions and Frameworks
Resolution in Support of Undocumented students/students impacted by immigration policies:
Resolution in Support of Undocumented students/students impacted by immigration policies: including but not limited to students who are undocumented, asylee applicants, asylees, refugees, students who qualify for DACA or AB 540 and students who are from mixed status households
Whereas, the State of California has passed California Senate Bill 54, known as the California Values Act or the “Sanctuary State” law ensures that no state and local resources would be used to assist the enforcement of federal immigration laws. (Calif. Gov. Code §§ 7282, 7282.5, 7284-7284.12.);
Whereas the State of California has passed Assembly Bill 21, which places obligations on Community College Districts to prevent students, staff, and faculty from participating in Federal immigration enforcement efforts unless required by state or federal law. The statute is intended to ensure everyone in California has an opportunity to pursue an education free from intimidation and undue risk. (Ed Code, 66093, subd. (a).);
Whereas, in 2023, San Mateo County amended Title 2, Chapter 2.48 of the County’s Ordinance Code to prohibit County departments, agencies, commissions, officers, agents, representatives, and employees from using County resources, property, personnel, time, labor, or funds to communicate with immigration authorities regarding an individual’s release time, date, or place, home or work address, or contact information, or to otherwise assist or cooperate in any immigration enforcement activities, including information gathering, unless pursuant to a judicial warrant or otherwise required by federal or state statute, regulation, or court decision;
Whereas, on January 25, 2017, the San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees approved a Resolution Affirming SMCCCD's Commitment to Protecting Undocumented Students and Student Privacy;
Whereas,Skyline College opened the Skyline College Dream Center (now called the Undocumented Community Center) on February 1st, 2017, with the support of 1 Full-time Program Services Coordinator;
Whereas, On January 21, 2025, the Chancellor and three College Presidents sent a joint message to the District community affirming SMCCCD's Commitment to Supporting Our Undocumented Community;
Whereas, on January 9th, the San Mateo County Community College District offered a session titled “District Support of Our Undocumented Communities: Policies, Procedures and Legal Resources” which was attended by all 3 College Presidents and the District Chancellor and also offered a session titled “UndocuAlly Training”;
Whereas, in January 2025, the district launched a webpage for Undocumented Community Resources- Undocumented Community Resources | SMCCCD Home | San Mateo County Community College District;
Whereas on January 10th, Skyline College led an overview and discussion policies and procedures during the opening day portion of Flex Day and an afternoon session titled “UndocuAdvocate Training”;
Whereas, on April 7, 2025, the Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees recently designated the Foothill-De Anza Community College District to be a Sanctuary District to stand in solidarity with their undocumented and immigrant students in the face of threat of increased imprisonment and deportation as a result of changing federal policy;
Whereas,on April 9, 2025, SMCCD Communications sent a Message from the Chancellor’s Office only to faculty members titled “Faculty Guidance re: Potential Federal Law Enforcement Activities on Campus” stating that classrooms, libraries, learning centers, and cafeterias are not “safe” spaces with respect to federal law enforcement. Classified employees, student workers, and administrators were not included in this memo, leaving more questions around how the district will protect and provide legal resources and support to students, employees, and their families in the face of real immigration threats;
Whereas, as of May 11, 2025, the current Presidential Administration has revoked or changed the status of over 1800 international students nationally, and locally revoked six international student immigrant visas at De Anza and one at the San Mateo Community College District;
Whereas,undocumented students, international students, asylees, and refugees have protected rights under the United States Constitution, they live under fear of deportation, travel restrictions, imprisonment, and separation from family, while pursuing their education due to federal immigration policies. Students face fear of speaking out and exercising their first amendments rights. They have to overcome economic and legal barriers, including but not limited to lack of access to financial aid and lack of support in their native language. Although these barriers are broad and overarching, undocumented students are disproportionately impacted and continue to face additional barriers that can impact college attendance and persistence;
Whereas the federal government’s policy of monitoring student activities it deems "anti-American” are being used as pretexts for increased surveillance of immigration status and termination of student visas. Rumeysa Öztürk, a doctoral student and research assistant at Tufts University’s Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development, was illegally abducted, detained by ICE, and had her student visa revoked without notice for writing an op-ed in the Tufts Daily in support of Tufts acknowledging the Palestinian genocide, and released when a federal judge ordered for her to return to Massachusetts from an ICE detention center in Louisiana on May 9, 2025. Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student in Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and lawful permanent US resident, was illegally abducted and is currently detained by ICE and DHS without a warrant. The targeting of international and immigrant students on pretext that political engagement and activism is anti-American increases fear amongst undocumented and international students alike and contributes to the silencing of student voices. Free speech, first amendment rights, and academic freedom are linked as protected acts under the law. Detaining any student and threatening their immigration status for speech that is protected by our Constitution is illegal;
Whereas, the California Office of the Attorney General released a statement in 2023 regarding protecting free speech, “Schools have a responsibility to protect all students from threats and harassment, and to prevent discrimination due to a hostile learning environment. Under California law, all students have the right to participate fully in the education process, free from discrimination and harassment. Therefore, schools are not only prohibited from discriminating, but also have a responsibility to provide equal educational opportunity to all students and an affirmative duty to combat racism and other forms of bias.” and
Whereas, academic institutions have a responsibility to provide a safe and supportive environment for all students, regardless of their immigration status;
Therefore, be it:
Resolved, that the Skyline College Academic Senate hereby condemns, unequivocally, xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment and all forms of discrimination and affirms its commitment to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for all students, regardless of their background or immigration status;
Resolved, that Skyline College Academic Senate work with the College administration and the Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning (CTTL) to provide professional development opportunities for all faculty, classified professionals and administrators focused on supporting undocumented students and/or immigrant students, addressing racial equity, resource referrals, students’ rights and combating discrimination through culturally responsive practices;
Resolved that Skyline College Academic Senate work with the College and District administration to establish clear training, protocols and procedures for faculty, staff, administrators and student employees on:
- how tomaintainspaces on campus to be as safe, private and protected as possible within the extent of what is legal
- how to respond in the case of ICE presence on campus, including evening and weekend hours;
- how to ensureadherenceto the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in the case of ICE presence on campus
- how to define if a space is public or private and how to respond accordingly in the case that Immigration and Customs Enforcement were to come to one of those spaces;
Resolved that Skyline College Academic Senate work with the College and District Administration to publicly commit to actions that visibly and practically support student safety
in alignment with SMCCCD Board Resolution Affirming SMCCCD's Commitment to Protecting Undocumented Students and Student Privacy;
Resolved, that the Skyline College Academic Senate hereby reserve the right to exercise academic freedom and support our students’ First Amendment rights, which includes participating in political activities, political education and activism—especially in voicing dissent against illegal detention, “catch and revoke” deportation, and circumstances that prevent our academic freedom;
Resolved, that the Skyline College Academic Senate work with the College and District Administration to develop policies and procedures that limit interaction with federal officials for the purpose of immigration enforcement strictly to that which is legally required and explore further ways to put meaningful action behind SMCCCD Board Resolution Affirming SMCCCD's Commitment to Protecting Undocumented Students and Student Privacy;
Resolved, Skyline College Academic Senate work with the Skyline College Administration and Marketing Communications and Public Relations (MCPR) to:
- Create a clear communication and marketing plan to inform existing and prospective students impacted by immigration policies of their rights and to increase visibility and access to support services
- Provide regular updates to all faculty, staff and students in response to new and changing information about immigration actions and policies;
Resolved, that Skyline College Academic Senate work with the College Administration to provide wellness and mental health support that is inclusive, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive, addressing the unique challenges faced by undocumented, mixed-status, DACA, and immigrant students;
Resolved that the Academic Senate work with the Skyline College Administration to create partnerships with local community councils and representatives to be prepared to respond and bring to light any injustices surrounding or relating to this matter, should any occur in alignment with SMCCCD Board Resolution Affirming SMCCCD's Commitment to Protecting Undocumented Students and Student Privacy.
Resolved, that the Skyline College Academic Senate work with the Skyline College Vice President of Instruction and the Skyline College Curriculum Committee, a standing sub-committee of the Academic Senate, responsible for the oversight and guidance of Skyline’s curriculum to:
- Encourage faculty to include statements of support for undocumented and immigrant students in their syllabi and to create inclusive classroom environments
- Require that programs with programmatic accreditation requiring social security number verification for licensing include a clear statement of this requirement in their program description, admissions webpage, and all relevant materials
Resolved, that Skyline College Academic Senate work with the Skyline College Administration to ensure Skyline College’s commitment to maintaining and expanding the Undocumented Community Center as a dedicated space for students and the community by funding:
- Supplemental institutional resources to expand the Undocumented Community Center's (UCC) legal clinic hours, ensuring student access to both in-person and virtual legal services
- The Unlocking Future Fellowship program beyond what the current state grant provides, including a commitment to institutionalizing the program
- An immigration specialist to conduct, at least, one "Know Your Rights" session training for all the students and members of Skyline College community every Fall and Spring semester
- Appropriate dedicated staffing across the campus to comprehensively support the needs, support, and advocacy of existing and future vulnerable immigrant students.
- Increase staffing in Admissions and Records and Student Services to proactively address student needs in areas such as residency reclassification, AB 540 designation, CADAA, fee waivers, and financial aid
Resolved that Skyline College Academic Senate work with the Skyline College Administration to ensure that private office spaces are available for students to consult with UCC Coordinator, Fellows, Legal Counsel, Admissions Specialists, and Counseling Faculty;
Resolved, Academic Senate of Skyline College continue to keep faculty informed on the changing factors affecting undocumented students, promote Undocumented Community Center events to other faculty, and seek additional ways to collaborate with the Undocumented Community Center;
This resolution affirms our commitment to the success and well-being of all students, regardless of their immigration status, and our dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive academic community.
Resources:
Undocumented Community Resources | SMCCCD Home | San Mateo County Community College District
San Mateo County amended Title 2, Chapter 2.48 of the County’s Ordinance Code
Resolution Affirming SMCCCD's Commitment to Protecting Undocumented Students and Student Privacy
SMCCCD's Commitment to Supporting Our Undocumented Community.
Relevant SMCCD Board Policies and Procedures
Interim AP 3415: Featured - San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) BoardDocs® Plus
Interim BP 5040: Featured - San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) BoardDocs® Plus
Interim AP 5017: Featured - San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) BoardDocs® Plus
Promoting a Safe and Secure Campus for All: Guidance and Model Policies to Assist California’s Colleges and Universities in Responding to Immigration Issues: oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/immigration/higher-education-guidance.pdf
CSAC Executive Office Memorandum :Undocumented Student Data Privacy: https://www.csac.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/oed_2024-04.pdf
California Community Colleges Legal Advisory 24-11-15: California and its Community Colleges Remain Sanctuary Jurisdictions
Guidance regarding students’ free speech rights and schools’ obligation to prevent discrimination and harassment
https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/legal-alert-oag-2023-03.pdf
International Student Visas Revoked, Inside Higher Ed
Six De Anza student visas terminated, La Voz News
https://lavozdeanza.com/news/2025/04/11/student-visas-terminated/
Resolution 2025-16 of the Board of Trustees Designating the Foothill-De Anza Community College District to be a Sanctuary District
Community college student’s visa revoked, Redwood City Pulse
https://www.rwcpulse.com/education/2025/04/11/community-college-students-visa-revoked/
FERPA
https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/ferpa