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ICE agents arrests man in Allan Hancock College parking lot

October 5, 2026

By  KAREN VELIE

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested a man after he dropped his daughter off at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria on Monday morning as part of an increase in targeted arrests throughout the nation.

Shortly before 10 p.m., agents arrested the man in Parking Lot 2 and then left the campus. Superintendent-President Kevin Walthers said in an email that the administration didn’t “participate in or assist with the enforcement action.”

“This incident causes concern for everyone in the Hancock community, and we remain united in supporting our undocumented students and students from mixed-status families,” Walthers wrote. “Allan Hancock College remains committed to supporting the safety, well-being, education, and future of all our students.”

Santa Maria Councilwoman Gloria Soto participated in a press conference on campus later in the day in which she said she contacted ICE to demand they tell her how many operations they are conducting in the city.

On Monday, ICE operations in Santa Maria and Guadalupe significantly increased with more than a dozen arrests reported on social media accounts including five at the jail, three near McDonald’s, and several men taken out of vehicles.

 


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Response from AHC President:


Following today’s ICE arrest on campus, it seems useful to recap the conversations we’ve had in the past for what to do if ICE comes on campus. We created this FAQ for our campus. I have also attached a graphic that you can share or post as you see fit.


Today’s event appears to be a one-off where an agent followed a car onto campus rather than initiating interaction on campus. Even so, that is a distinction with little difference to our students.


We should also be clear that ICE may have legitimate reasons for coming to campus, but we expect them to follow the protocols of alerting our own campus police department and engaging with the president’s office prior to enforcement activity. We believe it’s important for all involved to act within the law, so please review the information below to ensure that we are doing our part to protect students while adhering to the regulations required of us:


Protocols for Employees

Allan Hancock College is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment for immigrant students, undocumented students and their families. AHC is also committed to protecting the rights of immigrant students, undocumented students, and their families through policies that prohibit information-sharing with local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities to the fullest extent possible under the law. (See Board Policy 5017)


If AHC employees are approached by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers requesting information about a student, please follow these steps. This protocol ensures compliance with federal and state laws while safeguarding the rights and privacy of students.


Step 1: Remain Calm and Professional

· Always maintain a calm and respectful demeanor if approached by an ICE officer.

· Politely inform the officer that you are required to follow the college’s protocol for such requests.


Step 2: Do Not Disclose Any Information

· Do not provide any student information, including enrollment status, class schedules, or personal details, to the officer.

· Remind the officer that all requests for student information must go through the Office of the College President.


Step 3: Direct the Officer to the Office of the College President

· Politely inform the officer: “Per college policy, all requests for student information must be handled by the Office of the College President. I will guide you to the appropriate office.”

· Escort the officer, if necessary, or provide directions to the Office of the College President.

· If you are in a classroom setting, call the president’s office at extension at 3223. If you are teaching a weekend or evening class, call AHC PD at extension 3911 or 805-347-7557. They will find the college president or a designee to respond to your classroom.


Step 4: Allow the Office of the College President to Handle the Request

· The Office of the College President will review the request and consult with legal counsel to determine the appropriate response.

· If a valid court order, subpoena, or warrant is presented, the college’s legal counsel will advise on compliance.


Step 5: Maintain Confidentiality

· Do not share details of the ICE officer’s visit or request with anyone other than personnel in the Office of the College President.

· Remind other staff members that student information is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and California state law.


Step 6: Documentation

· You may be asked to write a brief summary the interaction with the ICE officer. Include the date, time, location, and a summary of what occurred.

· Submit this report to the Office of the College President for record-keeping.


By following this protocol, employees can ensure they act in accordance with college policy, state and federal laws, and protect the rights of students.


Legal Basis and References:

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): Protects the privacy of student education records and limits disclosure without written consent or a court order.

California Values Act (SB 54): Limits the involvement of state and local resources in federal immigration enforcement activities.

AHC Board Policy (BP)/Administrative Procedures (AP):

BP 5017: Responding to Inquiries of Immigration Status, Citizenship, and National Origin Information

AP 5040: Student Records, Directory Information, and Privacy


Stay vigilant,


Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D.


Superintendent/President


-10

Meanwhile, South of the border, Mexicans are demonstrating against Americans raising the costs of apartments in Mexico City. Those pesky Americans must be peddling fentanyl between visits for street tacos.


2

Perhaps the president of the college should find out what this guys warrant was for prior to condemning law enforcement. These idiot educators actually are so delusional as to believe innocents are being snatched off the streets. What is the value of a Hancock education if it’s run by idiots?


8

WE THE PEOPLE, in the current vast majority, voted for this. ALL OF THIS!


American Patriot Hispanics want ALL ILLEGAL INVADERS removed as well. Posthaste!


“It’s a crime to enter the country illegally under Title 8 United States Code 1325, and it’s really pathetic that any member of Congress [doesn’t] understand what the law says.” – Tom Homan, Border Czar


18 U.S.C. § 111-Interfere, impede, or assault an ICE officer, get arrested.


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