Southwestern College Immigration Information & Student Privacy

At Southwestern College (SWC), we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment for all students—regardless of immigration status. Our college policies, along with state and federal laws, ensure that student information is protected and that our campus remains a safe place to learn, work, and thrive.

SWC community members and partners can sign up for our alert system to receive emails, SMS/texts, and/or TTS/calls. All students and employees are automatically subscribed to SWC's emergency alert system.

Protection of Student Information

All SWC employees must adhere to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA strictly protects the privacy of student educational records and all personally identifiable information contained within those records.

This means that SWC cannot disclose any student information, including immigration status, without the student’s written consent. This restriction applies to all outside agencies, including federal immigration authorities.

SB 98 - Student & Work Protection Act

SWC complies fully with the California Student and Worker Protection Act (SB 98), which strengthens privacy protections related to immigration status and limits access to school campuses by federal immigration enforcement agencies.

Under SB 98:

•  Immigration enforcement agents may access nonpublic areas of campus only upon presentation of a valid judicial warrant. (Ed. Code, § 66093.3, subd. (a)(4).)
• College personnel are not permitted to share information regarding a student’s or employee’s immigration status unless required by law. (Ed. Code, § 66093.3, subds. (a)(1), (a)(6).)
• Students’ personal information is protected, and colleges are expected to support undocumented students and help them continue their education when immigration enforcement actions disrupt their academic progress. (Ed. Code, § 66093.3, subds. (a)(1), (a)(10)(A).)
• SWC will notify all students, faculty, staff, and other campus community members who work on campus when the presence of immigration enforcement is confirmed on campus. (Ed. Code, § 66093.3, subd. (b)(1).)
• If SWC receives notice of an upcoming immigration agency’s inspection of I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification forms or other employment records, SWC will post a notice informing workers and their union representative, if applicable, within 72 hours of receiving that notice. (Labor Code Sections 1550-1559)

Non-Participation in Immigration Enforcement Activities

Consistent with state law and our institutional values, SWC will not participate in immigration enforcement activities. In alignment with policies similar to AP3415 used across California community colleges:

• The College will not use campus resources—including public safety, staff time, or facilities—for immigration enforcement or information-gathering purposes.
• SWC does not collect or maintain immigration status information except when required for specific state or federal programs.
• Our priority is to maintain a campus environment where all students feel safe accessing education, student services, and campus programs.

Our Commitment to a Safe Campus

SWC is dedicated to protecting the rights, privacy, and educational access of every student. We recognize that fears or concerns about immigration enforcement can impact student success, and we remain committed to offering a welcoming and supportive environment for all.

If you have questions or need support, please contact the SWC Police Department at x6691 or (619) 216-6691.

Frequently Asked Questions