The University stands as a symbol of dreams coming true, drawing students from across the nation and worldwide. These students come to Los Angeles in pursuit of opportunity and to fulfill their dreams. Much like the students who arrive on campus, immigrants have left home and arrived in the city in search of a better future.

For decades, Los Angeles has been home to thousands of immigrants represented in city neighborhoods. Just a couple miles north of campus lies Pico Union, a neighborhood shaped by Salvadoran and Guatemalan immigrants who fled civil war. Nearby, MacArthur Park has become a hub for many Central American communities, who continue to add to L.A.’s cultural richness.

Despite these vibrant contributions, the city sat in silence this summer as the United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement led its mass deportation tactics. These intensified mass deportations have left local communities and students in fear, which has festered into crushing anxiety that follows these Angelenos wherever they go, on and off campus.

Reports of ICE activity in early August near BMO Stadium’s parking lot raised alarm among students and the South Central community. Despite the appeal of campus having the presence of Department of Public Safety agents, which purport to “provide a safe and secure environment on campus and in the local USC community,” the University has not mentioned its support for impacted students. 

For some students, these developments may pass as just another headline, but for Trojans who are undocumented or are children of immigrants, the impact is personal. The faltering sense of belonging and the need to stay vigilant simply on a walk to class or a grocery run is deeply unsettling. Even more troubling is the lack of University efforts to affirm undocumented students amid heightened federal crackdowns. 

An earlier statement mentioning the University’s cooperation with ICE has left questions about what steps to take. In the absence of reassurance, many students are left to seek out the limited resources that exist on campus. Though USC has partnered with local schools as proof of its commitment to opportunity, that support rarely extends to undocumented students once they arrive on campus, leaving them to rely on resources they have built for themselves. 

Students seeking community may go into the First Generation Plus Success Center. The center offers “Know Your Rights” red cards that lay out the rights for individuals if they are approached by law enforcement. 

In response to a ramp-up in ICE raids, community members across the city have actively been tracking federal activity. Some members have created watch duties at Home Depots to report incoming activity. Additionally, an anonymous Padlet titled People over Papers has been a reporting system for any law enforcement activity. 

Additionally, grassroots initiatives have led to the creation of food delivery banks, providing support for families impacted by ICE raids. Restaurants in Boyle Heights, for example, have provided packed bags filled with produce for sheltering immigrant families, while organizations like No Us Without You LA have food assistance programs and delivery options for undocumented workers. These acts of community service mean people are watching out for one another in every form, ensuring no family goes hungry or faces isolation. 

Despite these well-intentioned acts of activism, gaps remain, as students have long received support from external bureaucratic organizations. On campus, students can find further support from the Undocumented Trojan Success Assembly, but unfortunately, UTSA can only do so much: While students have taken the steps to protect each other, they are still limited in an authoritative capacity — it should be the administration protecting its students. 

Students have petitioned for a dedicated resource center and increased access to legal and mental health resources. Yet, institutional responses remain insubstantial. While the Gould School of Law provides legal support through its Immigration Clinic, with a federal ramp-up in anti-immigration policy, the clinic is overbooked, making assistance difficult to reach. Therefore, undocumented students are forced to search for mutual aid benefits as they enter a new academic year. 

With the start of a new academic year, undocumented students are left wondering when their admission to the University will translate into steadfast support. Failing to do so sends a message that USC’s promises of community exclude certain students, students who do not have control over the circumstances of their upbringing. The University’s acceptance, starting from the moment of an extension of admission, carries the responsibility of advocating for all students’ rights and safety.

To truly uphold its commitment, the University must take actionable steps toward building a Dream Center and expanding access to legal aid by increasing funds for the currently understaffed immigration clinic. As raids continue, the University administration must train faculty and staff to understand the specific struggles undocumented students face. These are essential to building a truly inclusive learning environment. 

With a spread of anti-immigration rhetoric on and off campus, it is necessary for the University to respond to the demands of its students. By supporting its students regardless of immigration statuses that they cannot control, the University  would redefine opportunity on campus — the same hopes and dreams of achievement and accomplishment for every Trojan.

Disclaimer: Heydy Vasquez currently serves as the Co-executive director of the Undocumented Trojan Success Assembly.