Campus attempts to ease students’ fears with red cards.

Although limited in their response to the possibility of ICE coming to campus, Valley tries to keep immigrant students in the know. 

By: Elmira Muradkhanyan and Davrin “AJ” Abrego, Staff Writers 

Photo Illustration by Melvin Garcia

Los Angeles Valley College and its eight sister campuses have been informing students of their rights in light of President Trump's immigration policies and some students are saying their efforts are not enough. 

The law prohibits colleges and universities from disclosing information about ICE’s presence on campus, yet they are still trying to keep students informed. The campus’s main defense against the heightened immigration policies is through the distribution of the Know Your Rights “Red Cards” that detail students' rights when dealing with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (ICE) on and off campus. The cards come in multiple languages, including Spanish, and Russian. 

The Fourth and Fifth amendments outlined on these cards include the ability to refrain from speaking to any officer, or allow officers to search their person, car, or home without a warrant. If students choose to speak with ICE agents, they have the right to ask for identification and badge numbers.

In addition to the cards, Dream Resource Center Coordinator and counselor Javier Carabajal attended Tuesday's ASU meeting to inform the executive board about students’ rights.

“This isn't a political conversation; this is a conversation about student rights.” Carabajal said at the meeting. “There is no actual safe space. There are only brave spaces.” 

However, several students said “The Red Cards are an insufficient effort.”

“I would like to see some sort of link or QR code that would send students to websites with more in depth supportive information.” said Vanessa, a Valley College student.

 She emphasized that students who feel threatened may utilize their constitutional rights to not open any doors for officers and/or release any information regarding themselves and their families

One campus official said they spotted ICE at the nearby Orange Line, on the corner of Fulton and Burbank avenues, a few weeks ago. Officers were reported stopping passersby. If ICE agents make their way  on campus, instructors, staff and students have been advised to refer them to the President Barry Gribbons’ office. 

 Some news reports suggest that ICE agents will become more visible over the next few days. A recent article by the Los Angeles Times states, “ICE plans to carry out ‘large scale’ immigration enforcement action in the Los Angeles area at the end of [February].” 

The Dream Resource Center and the Mental Health Center on campus offer students the opportunity to speak with counselors about their concerns. 

“Schools should give students the tools to equip themselves in scenarios where they do not feel as protected, whether it is at their home or their workplace,” said Valley student Star Jalanugraha.