At Santa Monica College, the classroom door has become more than an entry point to learning. This semester, nearly every classroom displays signage declaring it an “Access Restricted” or “Non-Public Area.” While the notices may look ordinary, they represent a deliberate legal and moral stand: the college is using every available tool to protect its students from unlawful immigration enforcement.
Under federal law and Department of Homeland Security guidance, the distinction between public and non-public spaces is critical. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents may enter lobbies or reception areas open to the public without a warrant. But to enter non-public spaces like classrooms, private offices, or dormitories, they must present a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Administrative “warrants” issued by ICE officers themselves, which agents often carry, do not meet that standard. To deter overreach, DHS itself has advised institutions to clearly mark non-public areas with signage. Santa Monica College has taken that advice to heart, making the rule visible at every classroom door.
The signs are backed by a robust framework of policy and procedure. The college’s official enforcement response guidelines, based on recommendations from California’s Attorney General, spell out exactly what faculty and staff should do if approached by immigration agents. Employees are instructed not to grant access to classrooms or provide student records on their own. Instead, they must immediately contact Campus Police, who will act only as liaisons and refer the matter to the Superintendent/President and Campus Counsel for legal review.
Campus Police’s role is intentionally limited. The guidelines make clear that they will not detain, question, or arrest anyone based on immigration status, and will not collaborate with ICE on enforcement operations. This ensures that all decisions about federal requests are centralized with senior leadership and attorneys, not left to frontline staff under pressure.
Student privacy is another cornerstone. Santa Monica College pledges to treat all students equitably, regardless of status, and prohibits staff from inquiring about or disclosing immigration status unless required by law. No student educational records may be released without consent or a court order, and even international students on F-1, J-1, or M visas (who are tracked in a federal database) retain their FERPA rights for information beyond what DHS regulations require.
The urgency of these protections was underscored earlier this year, when an SMC student was apprehended by ICE agents off campus and swiftly deported. He had been on his way to class when agents detained him. Despite being close to graduation and deeply rooted in the community, he was forced out of the country within days. The incident sent shockwaves through the campus, reminding students and faculty alike that while classrooms may now be clearly designated as safe zones, the threat of enforcement just outside campus boundaries remains very real.
SMC has also made sure that every student knows what to do in the event of an encounter with ICE. The college automatically includes a “What to Do If ICE Shows Up” flyer in every student’s Canvas account, alongside homework assignments and class files. The flyer provides step-by-step instructions: remain calm, do not consent to searches, direct officers to Campus Police and Campus Counsel, and notify administrators immediately. By embedding this guidance into the online platform students use every day, the college ensures that legal protections are not just abstract policies but practical, accessible tools.
The threats facing students extend beyond raids. The Trump administration has moved to slash federal aid programs and expand access to student loan data, including Social Security numbers and immigration status. This has raised alarms that U.S. citizens in mixed-status families could be discouraged from applying for aid, fearing that personal data could be used for enforcement. Meanwhile, Santa Monica College itself was named in a federal list of institutions accused of “failing to combat antisemitism,” a label widely seen as political retaliation against campuses where students protested Israel’s genocide in Gaza. By placing SMC on this list, the administration has created yet another pretext for scrutiny, cuts to funding, and pressure on administrators to discipline student protesters .
The guidelines also remind staff that classrooms are not just educational spaces but legally protected areas. ICE’s own “sensitive locations” policy, though non-binding, discourages enforcement actions at schools and colleges. SMC underscores that distinction and instructs faculty, staff, and students to immediately report the presence of any federal immigration officer on campus to Campus Police, even if no direct request is made. For immigrant and mixed-status families, these measures provide more than symbolic reassurance. They create tangible barriers against intimidation, ensuring that students can pursue their education without fear of unlawful intrusion. By combining signage with clear legal protocols, centralized authority, and strong privacy protections, Santa Monica College has transformed its classrooms into visible zones of safety.