LONG BEACH (KMJ) — The Chancellor of the CSU system says his team is “carefully examining” the latest memorandum from the White House on immigration.
It comes after Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly issued documents to his department on Tuesday, which included the direction that anyone in the country illegally who has been charged, convicted, or suspected of a crime, will be an enforcement priority.
But that could include offenses considered relatively minor such as shop-lifting.
“Clearly, this emerging federal immigration policy is complex,” wrote Chancellor Timothy White. In the letter to the entire California State University community, he stated that the CSU system is looking at the federal directives and reviewing their impact.
“We do not have information indicating that stepped up enforcement will focus on our campuses. We do advise any member of our CSU community – students, faculty and staff – who is approached while on campus by federal, state or local officials asking for information or documentation regarding immigration status, to immediately contact the University Police Department.
“The University Police Department will act as a liaison with the on-site officials, and will coordinate with the Office of General Counsel to provide guidance, references and resources as available.”
He also establishes that it doesn’t impact the existing ‘Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals’, or ‘DACA’, policy.
“As I have emphasized in the past, the California State University is committed to being an inclusive and welcoming institution of higher education that is enhanced by our global community.
“As such, we will continue to make every lawful effort to provide a safe and welcoming campus environment for all of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of our community.”
Hear the story from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
You can read the full letter sent to the California State University community clicking the image below:
