A federal judge Friday ordered the release of a San Diego City College student who was detained by federal immigration officers last month.
On Friday, attorney Wismick Saint-Jean appeared in federal court on behalf of the student, Renatho Casseus, seeking his release through a habeas corpus petition. The judge granted the petition and ordered Casseus released, according to a statement from the attorney.
On Sept. 8, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in unmarked vehicles stopped a vehicle near the intersection of 16th and C streets, according to district officials. The driver, Casseus, was taken into custody, while the passenger fled onto City College’s campus.
Community college officials celebrated his release.
“Our community has stood by Renatho and his family throughout this ordeal, confident justice would prevail. We are sincerely appreciative of the work done by Renatho’s attorney to secure his release,” said San Diego Community College District Chancellor Gregory Smith.
Ricky Shabazz, SDCC’s president, said he was “overwhelmed with gratitude, joy, and hope as we celebrate Casseus’ release” and “the power of love, community, advocacy, and our collective commitment to social justice.”
When Casseus was detained, district officials said the pursuing ICE agents “quickly stopped as they recognized they were entering a college campus. The agents went back to their vehicles and left.”
However, on Oct. 1, SDCCD began installing signs prohibiting immigration enforcement on its property. The 18-by-30-inch signs were installed at entry points around the district’s three main campuses and other locations.
SDCCD officials said the signs had been in the works since the spring, but their installation was accelerated after Casseus’ detention.
Since Sept. 8, the community college district has begun using text alerts when federal immigration officials are spotted. In addition, the district and its colleges have expanded counseling and legal support services for students while raising funds to pay Casseus’ legal bills.
Going forward, Smith said the district will “advocate with its congressional representatives for legislation that would prevent immigration enforcement activity at education, medical and religious facilities, and other sensitive locations,” according to a district statement.
The City College enforcement action, and a similar one in which ICE agents took two parents into custody while they were dropping off their child at John Marshall Elementary School in Chollas Creek, sparked community backlash. Most of the local Congressional delegation, along with California senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, joined in, sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security demanded a stop to ICE activity near schools.
“Parents should be able to drop their children off at school without fearing detention, and students should be able to attend class without encountering federal immigration enforcement around their campus,” according to the letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
ICE has not responded to requests for comment regarding the San Diego campus actions.
According to SDCCD, California law restricts federal immigration enforcement officers from entering nonpublic areas of school campuses, questioning students or accessing personal student and family data without a valid judicial warrant or court order. In addition, SDCCD policy prevents district employees from assisting federal immigration officials.
