On Jan. 22, a Department of Justice memo went out stating state and local officials who attempted to resist immigration enforcement would be prosecuted. Since then there have been threats of mass deportation.
These threats have caused concern among undocumented students and documented students alike.
Delta College declared itself a sanctuary campus and thus will not aid any federal immigration officers in apprehending undocumented students, according to board resolution #23-030 passed at the Dec. 17, board meeting.
“We have very strict policies and I can ensure you as chief we won’t help them,” said then-acting Delta College police chief Jim Bock. “We aren’t in the business of enforcing federal immigration laws.”
If you are a documented student you may be thinking that there isn’t anything you can do to aid fellow students who may be undocumented. That would be incorrect.
The Dreamer’s Success Center is Delta College’s on-campus resource for undocumented students. They provide legal and counseling services for undocumented students.
One way you can help your fellow students is to make sure you know your rights as a resident of the United States. The Dreamer’s Center hosts “Know Your Rights Workshops” to teach students their rights.
Going to these events and workshops and using the information you learn to teach your fellow students what their rights are is one way to help.
You can also pick up a Red Card in the Dreamer’s Center which provides you with information about your rights under the United States Constitution, whether or not you are a citizen.
Recently another resource Delta has made available to the public is the Mustang Alert! app.
“The Mustang Alert! app is designed as an all-in-one safety app that incorporates resources, communication, and emergency messaging,” said Delta College Public Information Officer Alex Breitler.
Mustang Alert! is an app made by Delta and Delta’s Police department. The app provides emergency contacts and the ability for Delta Police to alert all users of the app if something is happening on campus.
“During any situation on campus where we believe students, staff, and/or faculty might be at risk, we have the ability to send a message out through the Mustang Alert! System,” said Breitler.
The app is free and currently has 182 subscribers.
Mustang Alert! will allow students to inform the police department of the presence of immigration officers and then let them alert more students on campus.
Another form of aiding undocumented students is volunteering whether that is in the Dreamers Center or participating in protests such as the ones at Stockton City Hall on Feb. 15.
“If you stay silent you are part of the problem. If you see something say something,” said Janet Rivera, President of the Board of Trustees at Delta College.
