Point Loma Nazarene University updates immigration enforcement policies to comply with California Senate Bill 98

Point Loma Nazarene University has revised its campus policies concerning federal immigration enforcement to align with California’s Senate Bill 98. The policy updates, announced in a January 28 email to students, outline procedures for notifying the campus community if immigration officers are confirmed on site.

Lora Fleming, chief of staff and associate vice president of communications and public affairs, stated the email provides clearer guidance for students, faculty, and staff on how to respond to immigration enforcement. “SB 98 mainly adds a notification requirement when immigration enforcement is confirmed on campus. It also gave us the opportunity to provide clearer direction to faculty, staff and students about what to do if they’re ever approached by an immigration agent. Outside of that, our core protocols have not changed,” Fleming said.

The university continues to follow the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Fleming noted, “which generally prevents us from sharing a student’s personally identifiable information, including immigration status, without consent, and we remain committed to honoring constitutional protections on our private campus property, including Fourth Amendment safeguards. Any requests for access or documentation are still handled by designated university personnel in consultation with legal counsel.”

Under SB 98, universities must alert students, faculty, and staff once immigration enforcement presence is confirmed. “The law does not prescribe a specific format or exact timing beyond confirmation, but our intent is to communicate promptly once we have verified information,” Fleming added.

In his email, President Kerry Fulcher noted that while immigration agencies may legally patrol areas adjacent to campus — such as Lomaland Drive or nearby public parking lots — PLNU’s policies govern what happens on university property. The university has established internal procedures for interactions with federal officers. Students and faculty are not required to provide information directly, and officers are referred to designated administrative personnel.

On the main Point Loma campus, that location is Mieras Hall. Other PLNU campuses have similar arrangements, including at Balboa (east entrance lobby), Bakersfield (back lobby area), Liberty Station (entrance) and Mission Valley (main entrance lobby).

PLNU has coordinated with other institutions for the consistent implementation of SB 98. “We’ve remained in regular communication with peer institutions, most of them here in California, to ensure we understand the requirements clearly and are implementing the law thoughtfully and consistently,” Fleming said.

SB 98, which will remain in effect through Jan. 1, 2031, is part of a statewide effort to protect individuals from immigration enforcement on campus. The law reflects a commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of all individuals, as seen in Micah 6:8, which calls for acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.

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