Sacramento State students protest Trump immigration policies, urge support from school
Around 200 Sacramento State students gathered Tuesday afternoon to protest President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders that aim to enact mass deportations of immigrants and undocumented residents and end birthright citizenship.
They also protested what they said is an insufficient response from the university to threats of immigration crackdowns.
“I urge an end to mass deportations and for Sac State to listen and take action to fully support our demands, not just in theory, but in practice,” protest co-organizer Julia Ochoa said.
The student group had five demands for the university:
Establish the university as a sanctuary campus, ensuring no cooperation with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and refusing to share student information.
Create more scholarship opportunities for undocumented students.
Increase funding opportunities for undocumented students, including Dreamers who do not qualify for federal financial aid.
Expand staffing and funding for the Dreamer Resource Center (DRC) to better support students’ needs.
Grant amnesty to all student protesters affected by CSU’s Time, Place, and Manner policy, which they say suppresses free speech.
Ochoa, a freshman, said that the event was also a means of building community for students who are vulnerable to Trump’s threats of more intense immigration enforcement.
“We’re doing this to have a sense of community,” she said. “We’re doing this to have a space where we could all share our stories and be proud of where we come from.”
Opposition to protest from administration
Critics of the protest, including university President Luke Wood, said that a public demonstration would draw unwanted attention to the school. On a now deleted post about the protest on Students for Quality for Education at CSU Sacramento’s Instagram, Wood commented “this is going to draw unnecessary attention to our students who do not want that. Please be thoughtful.”
“We are committed to supporting freedom of expression and freedom of speech,” he wrote in a public statement Tuesday. “Many within our community have expressed that these protests do more to harm and bring unwelcome exposure to our vulnerable student communities. We ask that the organizers use discretion and judgment.”
He echoed this sentiment in comments made at a Faculty Senate meeting last week, saying that actions like rallies might unintentionally attract more unwanted media attention. At the same meeting, Wood criticized The Sacramento Bee’s coverage of faculty seeking stronger support and clarity around the university’s policy regarding immigration enforcement.
The opposition did not deter Ochoa and co-organizer Sofia Gonzalez from organizing the protest with the support of activist group Brown Issues.
Gonzalez said that while she understood Wood’s worries about the risk of holding this type of public event, she wished he threw his support behind students instead of discouraging them from gathering.
“I don’t think he should have commented that (on Instagram) — he should be the one giving us support and advice on how to make this campus a safe space,” she said.
Days after Sacramento State administration faced scrutiny for what several staff members felt was a lacking response from the district, Wood sent an email to students and staff clarifying that no ICE officers would be allowed on campus without a warrant and that all warrants would be reviewed by an administrative team.
The letter also included resources for students and staff personally impacted by immigration enforcement activities.
Hundreds of students gather in solidarity
Ochoa kicked off the event by sharing her family’s story of how her father’s lack of documentation meant that the family was separated for a period of time. He immigrated with his family when he was 16 years old.
Through tears, she said that while her family was eventually reunited and her dad has since developed a successful career, this is not the case for most immigrant families.
“His journey hasn’t been easy, and his struggles are often overlooked or misunderstood by many, but they’re a testament to resilience, hard work and the pursuit of a better life,” she said. “In telling a story, I hope to offer a glimpse into the realities that millions of families like mine face every day.”
Attendees donned Mexican flags and waved signs that opposed Trump and immigration authorities. Ochoa and Gonzalez were pleased with the turnout, which was higher than they expected.
Fellow freshmen Maggie Mora-Romero and Carla Brambila were nervous to attend but heartened by the movement to stand with immigrants.
“It was important that we show our support since not a lot of people can because they’re hiding in fear,” Brambila said.
A small group of counterprotesters had a brief altercation with Sacramento State staff when they were told to keep clear of the walkway. The group held Turning Point USA signs but said that they were not affiliated with the conservative advocacy group. One student held a sign that listed the number for the ICE tip line.
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 6:32 PM.
