Despite U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s call-off of sending federal agents to the Bay Area, the San José State administration addressed an arrest on Monday at the Hall of Justice.
The Rapid Response Network in Santa Clara County confirmed there was a targeted United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest about 2.3 miles northwest of campus on 190 W. Hedding St, according to the network’s Instagram post from the same day.
The network is unable to comment, confirm or disclose information on detained individuals without authorization from the individual receiving services, according to the same source.
Michelle Smith McDonald, SJSU’s senior director of media relations, said the university’s statement sent out on Thursday regarding immigration-related activities applies to this incident.
“We have no specific knowledge of any actions targeting our campus community or whether agents will be operating in the wider San José area,” president Cynthia Teniente-Matson wrote in a campus-wide email.
The university email was sent after President Trump called for federal agents associated with ICE to the Coast Guard Island Base in Alameda on Thursday morning, according to an Oct. 23 Spartan Daily article.
The statement affirms that the University Police Department will comply with Senate Bill 98 (SB 98).
The bill requires schools to notify campus community members when immigration enforcement occurs on campus, according to the email.
“If we are made aware of activities involving federal agents on or near campus – as with other law enforcement activity in the area of campus – you will receive notification via text and email,” the email read.
Senate Bill 98 was approved by California Governor Gavin Newsom on Sept. 20 and takes effect immediately as an urgent statute, according to CalMatters Digital Democracy.
“If you are approached by immigration officials or federal agents: You have the right to remain silent and to decline to show identification that is not required by law,” Teniente-Matson wrote. “Politely direct them to the University Police Department. Contact UPD immediately at (408) 924-2222 or through the Spartan Safe App.”
