California State University, Los Angeles, is allowing students and staff to work from home as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the area and across the state takes place, according to news reports.
The university provost stated in a letter to faculty that students are “scared to take public transit and fearful of driving to campus,” the Los Angeles Times reported, adding scholars were told they have “the option of working remotely for a limited time due to extraordinary circumstances they are facing.”
“Recent events in the LA area — including the presence of heavily armed immigration agents in MacArthur Park earlier this week — have left many in our community concerned for their safety,” Provost Heather Lattimer wrote Wednesday.
In that high-profile incident Monday, ICE agents targeted a popular Los Angeles park that has a reputation of being what some call an open-air drug market and haven for criminals and gang members. But Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass descended on the scene, voicing anger at the operation.
Lattimer, in her letter, also wrote: “This week also marks the 6-month anniversary of the wildfires that disrupted the lives of many in our community. As a campus we recognize the significant harm that has resulted from these events and reaffirm our commitment to supporting our students, faculty, and staff and prioritizing your safety and well-being.”
There have been no reported raids on the campus, KTLA reported.
The CSULA website states its summer school session launched May 27 and runs through Aug. 9.
Erik Frost Hollins, executive director of strategic communications for CSULA, told the Fox News the public university is making “case-by-case” decisions for students, staff and faculty.
“Faculty are being supported in making case-by-case adjustments for students in extraordinary circumstances,” Frost Hollins said. “Similarly, deans and department leads are supported in making case-by-case adjustments for faculty and staff. These are all individual adjustments we can make within current policy. Importantly, we do intend to have a full and engaging on-campus student experience in the fall.”
As for the incident at MacArthur Park in L.A., Bass had “tried to banish the ICE and Border Patrol officials … in a chaotic scene, blasting the operation as ‘un-American,'” the New York Post reported.
“But ICE and Border Patrol sources told The Post that they were there to try and help clean up the park, which has long been plagued by gang activity, homelessness and drug addicts overdosing on fentanyl and animal tranquilizers.”
MORE: 11 Florida universities partner with ICE to enforce immigration laws, protests ensue
IMAGE CAPTION & CREDIT: Cal State University Los Angeles / KTLA screenshot (YouTube)