June 9, 2025
Dear SRJC Community,
This weekend’s immigration enforcement activity and related demonstrations in Los Angeles have been difficult to witness. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the emotional impact that these events may be having on students, faculty, staff, and families within our community. It certainly has impacted my family and the discussions we are having about human dignity and democracy.
At SRJC, our mission calls us to create a learning environment rooted in equity, inclusion, and respect. That commitment holds steady, especially in moments when our community is navigating fear, uncertainty, or instability. Our role as educators is inclusive of our ability to recognize how the broader society impacts students and how they may show up in our classes, our programs, and our sites.
Although these events occurred in Southern California, we know they are being felt deeply here at SRJC. Many may be experiencing anxiety or questioning their safety, their future, or whether continuing their education is possible. If that’s true for you, please know this: you are welcome here. Your presence and your goals are seen, valued, and supported.
As a public educational institution, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to learn, and every educator deserves the opportunity to teach, in an environment that is safe, respectful, and supportive. These values are central to who we are and how we show up for one another.
With the Summer semester beginning next week, now is an important time to ensure we are informed and prepared to support ourselves and students. I encourage you to review the following resources:
- SRJC Guide to Responding to Immigration Enforcement Activities: A step-by-step guide available across all SRJC sites that outlines what to do if immigration officials are encountered.
- SRJC Immigration Information Contact Sheet: A document that provides names and numbers of trained SRJC personnel to be contacted in the event of immigration activity.
- SRJC Know Your Constitutional Rights: A quick-reference guide (modeled after “Red Cards”) that explains your legal rights in simple, accessible terms.
These resources, along with FAQs, are available at dream.santarosa.edu under Immigration Enforcement Activities FAQ.
We remain in close contact with our statewide partners and will continue to monitor developments. If new information arises that directly affects our community, we will provide timely updates.
This may be a challenging time for many. Please take care of yourselves and those around you. SRJC offers support across all campuses, and I encourage you to connect with the resources available:
- Employees: Access the Employee Assistance Program by entering “SISC” as the company name.
- Students: Contact Student Psychological Services at (707) 527-4445 or email studenthealthservices@santarosa.edu. Drop-in appointments are available on the Santa Rosa Campus (Bertolini Student Center, 3rd floor) and on the Petaluma Campus (Call Building).
We are all in this together, as a college, a community and a state. Let us continue to support one another and stand firm in our shared commitment to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
In Community,
Dr. Garcia, Ed.D.
Superintendent/President
707-527-4431, angelicagarcia@santarosa.edu
