Understanding SB 98

SAFE Act (SB 98)

SB 98 requires California universities to notify their campus communities when immigration enforcement activity is confirmed on campus, and to provide academic and financial support to students impacted by immigration actions.

In addition, the law requires that universities ensure undocumented students maintain access to financial aid/stipends, are exempt from nonresident tuition, and retain eligibility for housing, research, and re-enrollment.

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Types of Notifications

Cal Poly Pomona will send notifications and/or post an update based on the following:

Active Immigration Enforcement on Campus

Standard Compliance Visits

Campus Designee

SB 98 requires a campus designee to be the point of contact for individuals subject to immigration inquiries. The designee also verifies the legality of warrants, subpoenas, or court orders.

Cal Poly Pomona Designee

Jason Rodriguez, Chief of Staff and AVP, Administrative Services
adm_affairs@cpp.edu
(909) 869-3019

For general questions related to SB98, please email studentaffairs@cpp.edu. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


California Senate Bill 98 (SB 98) requires public colleges and universities to notify the campus community when confirmed immigration enforcement activity occurs on campus. The law is intended to promote transparency while protecting individual privacy and campus safety.

No. SB 98 does not require the University to assist with immigration enforcement. The University follows state and federal law, protects student and employee privacy, and limits cooperation to what is legally required.

In addition, per California state law, University Police will not engage in joint efforts with immigration enforcement authorities to contact, detain, question, or arrest an individual solely because of suspected undocumented immigration status or to discover the immigration status of any individual.

  • Compliance visits are routine or administrative interactions with immigration officials and do not involve enforcement actions. Examples include visa status reviews or check-ins that are administrative in nature, outreach or informational visits (e.g., presentations, career fair participation), and routine verification of nonimmigrant status or procedural follow-up. For transparency, CPP will post scheduled or completed compliance visits on this website.
  • Enforcement visits involve active efforts to investigate, detain, or remove individuals under federal immigration law. Examples include executing a federal immigration order (e.g., warrant, arrest order), investigating or attempting to detain individuals for immigration violations, and enforcement-related questioning or attempts to remove individuals from campus property.

Only confirmed enforcement activity triggers a campus notification under SB 98.

Cal Poly Pomona cannot prevent ICE from accessing public areas of the campus, such as open walkways, outdoor spaces, and common areas. However, per AB 21, CPP will not grant ICE access to nonpublic areas (such as classrooms, offices, residence halls, internal office spaces, and locker rooms) without a judicial warrant. This ensures compliance with state law while protecting the privacy and rights of students, faculty, and staff.
 
University employees are not required to affirmatively assist federal immigration enforcement officers or grant access to spaces unless officers present a valid judicial warrant that authorizes entry into those specific spaces. At the same time, employees may not interfere with lawful enforcement activity. This includes concealing individuals, destroying or withholding evidence, or otherwise obstructing enforcement actions. Employees should prioritize their own safety and avoid placing themselves in situations that pose a risk of physical harm.

A judicial warrant, issued by a judge, grants ICE the legal authority to enter nonpublic areas of CPP. CPP and UPD are legally required to comply with judicial warrants after verifying their validity. 

An administrative warrant, issued by ICE (not a judge), does not provide legal authority to enter nonpublic areas. CPP and UPD are not required to comply with administrative warrants and will not grant access based on them. 

Faculty, staff, and students should not attempt to verify a warrant themselves. Instead, they should immediately contact the campus designee, who will verify:
Jason Rodriguez, Chief of Staff and AVP, Administrative Services
adm_affairs@cpp.edu
(909) 869-3019

No. Compliance visits do not involve active immigration enforcement and therefore do not trigger SB 98 alerts. However, Cal Poly Pomona is committed to transparency so scheduled or completed compliance visits will be posted on this website.

A notification is triggered only after the campus designee or UPD verifies that federal immigration enforcement personnel are on campus to engage in active immigration enforcement. The alert will include:

  • Date and time the enforcement was confirmed.
  • Location on campus where the activity is occurring.
  • A link to additional campus and community resources (e.g., legal support, Know Your Rights information).
  • No personally identifiable information about the individuals involved will be shared.

If you are aware that an immigration enforcement activity is occurring or about to occur on campus, please notify the following as soon as possible:

Jason Rodriguez, Chief of Staff and Associate Vice President for Administrative Services
Phone: 909-869-3019
Email: adm_affairs@cpp.edu

If Jason is not available, please contact the University Police Department:
Emergency (call from campus phone): 911                                           
Emergency (call from cell phone): 909.869.3070                                
Main Office: 909.869.3061                                                                         
Non-emergency After Hours: 909.869.3399                                        
Email: police@cpp.edu

For general questions regarding SB 98, please email studentaffairs@cpp.edu.

If you are interested in having campus partners give an educational presentation on SB 98, please complete this form.

Avoid speculation and do not assume enforcement activity unless a campus notification is issued.