Dear SDCCE Community,

I am writing to follow up regarding the incident that occurred last Friday, January 16, 2026 at the Mid-City Campus that I shared during Spring Institution Day.

This past year has been difficult—not just for our institution, but across the country and around the world. As a college, we are not separate from the broader social and political climate. We feel its impact in our classrooms, in our offices, and in the lived experiences of our students and employees.

Last Friday, we experienced firsthand how frightening the possibility of an ICE raid can be. While the situation created fear and uncertainty, it also demonstrated just how prepared we truly are. Often, I have heard concerns that we would not know what to do if such a situation occurred. After what we experienced, I am more confident today than I was before.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., on Friday I was notified of a report that ICE was on our Mid-City Campus. I immediately headed to the campus, arriving within 10 minutes of the call. I notified our Chancellor and General Counsel, and the campus moved swiftly into action. Within 90 seconds, the campus was locked down—doors secured and classrooms closed.

Our ESL Dean, Dr. Bita Bookman, and College Operations Supervisor, Karen King, acted quickly and decisively. Classified Professionals, Zuri Williams and Marquest Glover promptly notified administration, ensuring an immediate response. Faculty members Jeff Strack, Amanda Simons, Eric Miller, Henry Nguyen, and others alerted colleagues in classrooms and canvassed the building. Classified Professionals, Amanda and Rita guarded the doors to support students as needed, and Mitza Lindsey provided access for me to the back entrance — thank you!

Vice Presidents Carter and Sabanos, along with Anthony Vargas and Dean Franklin Garrett, were onsite within 11 minutes and began canvassing the area. Karen King and faculty members also walked the surrounding park and block to confirm there was no ICE presence nearby.

While this was a frightening experience, it was also a powerful example of collective action. Everyone followed district processes and procedures with one shared mission: protecting our students. Although I hope we never experience this in real time again, I am confident that our community will act with the same care, courage, and clarity if needed. I am deeply grateful to everyone involved.

Prior to this event, Dr. Bookman listened to faculty who requested that whistles be purchased for the campus, and the whistles proved to be necessary and effective. Thank you to the faculty who brought this idea forward and thank you to the leadership for listening. This proves that we need one another to thrive.

In the days following the incident, we have also heard and acknowledge ongoing frustrations:

Employee Wellness

There is concern that responses have not been sufficiently centered on employee well-being. To address this:

• Be Well CCE Team Janisha Street, Jeremy Garcia, Liz Barajas, and ISSP Counselor Fatima Mota presented alongside General Counsel, Ljubiša Kostić during yesterday’s ICE Q&A session at Spring Institution Day to share mental health resources and tips.
• Be Well CCE shared an ongoing flyer with dates and times. They have many support groups available this semester. All groups will start the week of January 26th.
• For employees, “Think It Through Thursdays” is a staff-only wellness space held every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. This session focuses on expressing, de-stressing, and refueling.
• Where: Zoom | Meeting ID: 868 0187 2407
• Be Well CCE can also come and do an emergency support session on your campus, if you find your students experiencing heightened emotions in your shared time with them. Please email BeWellSDCCE@sdccd.edu to inform them of your need.

Campus Safety

We are always aiming to improve campus safety. In response:

• Emergency whistles were available to all employees at Spring Institution Day.
• VP Sabanos and Anthony Vargas are working on active safety simulations that will be shared with all campuses. These situations are complex and may differ by campus. For this reason, VP Sabanos and Anthony Vargas will be visiting each campus to develop detailed, comprehensive safety and emergency plans tailored to each location.
• A large town hall will be held in February, including a Q&A with General Counsel, Ljubiša Kostić.
• A comprehensive FAQ is being developed and will be shared ahead of the town hall and updated accordingly.

Thank you for your continued engagement, feedback, and commitment to our students and one another.

Additional Campus Resources

Safety, Inclusion, and Belonging

We have a dedicated webpage with Know Your Rights Information, District protocols, resources, and more curated by our Safety, Inclusion, and Belonging Task Force.

Immigrant Student Success Program

Our Immigrant Student Student Program is here to support students and their families. Free legal clinics and workshops are offered regularly, with trusted referrals to help with documentation assistance, legal representation, and more.

SDCCD Safe

Enhance your safety on and off campus with the SDCCDSafe app, available in the Apple App Store and Google Play. It is the official safety app of San Diego Community College District. The app features emergency contacts, crisis alerts, location services features, in-app tip reporting, and much more!

Your safety is our top priority.

Please take a moment to verify and update your cellphone number in the MySDCCD portal. Our RAVE Alert System depends on accurate contact information in PeopleSoft to quickly reach you during an emergency. Stay prepared—stay informed.