California recently implemented the Sending Alerts to Families in Education (SAFE) Act, which means Fresno State, among other California universities, is now required to notify its campus community if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is on campus.
According to President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, in a Campus Communications email sent out Thursday morning, Fresno State will do the following if ICE is confirmed on university property:
Send a campus-wide email alert to students and employees.
Share details of the ICE activity, like date, time and general location.
Provide a link to support resources.
Notifications will be sent via email, social media and updates will be posted online.
“To avoid unnecessary alarm, confirmation will occur before a notice is sent,” Jiménez-Sandoval said.
Since the Bulldog Text Alert system is reserved only for emergencies, ICE presence by itself will not trigger a notification unless there are active threats to health or safety, he said.
“In those situations, the university would follow standard emergency procedures,” Jiménez-Sandoval said.
He also said that news regarding ICE can be stressful, and provided a list of resources to combat this:
“Our goal is to communicate clearly, act responsibly, and provide assistance to those who need it,” Jiménez-Sandoval said.