Pres. Parham: Toros should “review their rights” regarding immigration enforcement on campus.
By Dylan Smith, Managing Editor
The visas of two CSUDH international students were restored after the Trump administration temporarily paused a broader policy that would have revoked the legal status of at least 1,200 students nationwide, university leaders said.
The Trump administration announced the policy change on Apr. 25, which followed a series of court challenges against the order.
President Thomas A. Parham responded to the news in a campus-wide email on Apr. 30. He emphasized the university’s continued commitment to international and immigrant students, calling the rollback a “positive outcome.”
“CSUDH and the [California State University] support the right of all individuals to pursue their education at our campus,” Parham wrote, adding that the university was “aware of no immigration enforcement actions” taking place on campus.
In the meantime, he said Toros should “review their rights and responsibilities” regarding immigration enforcement on campus. He also directed students to on-campus legal resources, including the Immigrant Justice Center (IJC).
The university first acknowledged the two visa cancellations in an Apr. 17 email. In accordance with university policy and federal student privacy guidelines, the university has not disclosed the names of the two affected students.
Parham noted that he and members of his leadership team had recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to discuss the issue and other matters with federal officials.
The Bulletin previously reported that IJC staff have seen an influx of appointments since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.
CSU policies protect the privacy of students and employees. Federal immigration officers must present a valid subpoena or court order to access protected information, such as student records, in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA.
However, international students and scholars are subject to additional requirements. CSU campuses must retain certain information and provide it to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement upon request. Universities are also required to report data on F-1, J-1 and M visa holders through the SEVIS tracking system—a web-based system used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to track and manage international student information.
Rony Castellanos Raymundo, program director for La Casita, emphasized that the center remains a welcoming space for everyone at CSUDH, including international students.
“We’ve received tremendous support from them and the Office of International Education,” Raymund told The Bulletin in an Apr. 25 email. “We have two professional staff members available to listen to their concerns and refer them to appropriate resources regarding visa cancellations.”