SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego County Board of Education is ensuring schools remain safe spaces amid federal immigration enforcement fears.
The board unanimously voted Wednesday night to update an existing policy first adopted in 2016 and last updated in 2017.
“We are also conforming to state law, but most importantly we’re conforming to the needs of our children and for their safe and effective education,” said Gregg Robinson, President of the San Diego County Board of Education.
The policy aligns with guidance from the California Attorney General upholding the privacy of undocumented students and limiting cooperation with ICE.
“It’s clear that their information isn’t going to be turned over immigration enforcement agents. It’s clear that we don’t ask for or collect information about citizenship status,” said Music Watson, Chief of Staff of the San Diego County Office of Education.
The policy update reinforces a safe environment and emphasizes protecting student rights.
“In speaking with educators, especially in the southern part of San Diego County, what they were telling me was that a lot of parents have expressed a lot of doubts. A lot of fear about whether or not their children would be safe going to school,” said immigrant rights advocate Pedro Rios, who is also the Director of the American Friends Service Committee.
Rios said the recent arrest of a mother near a Chula Vista school has also raised concerns about parents’ safety.
“That’s why hearing directly from school board officials or school district officials or even their teachers is important to understand that they are aware of the implications that greater enforcement might have,” Rios said.
The policy update also supports ongoing staff training and parent communication.
“First and foremost we want our staff to feel confident and comfortable in the engagement with ICE agents when that comes onto their campus to understand what warrants look like to know what to look for in the warrants,” said Gloria Ciriza, Superintendent of Schools of the San Diego County Board of Education.
Meanwhile, advocates like Rios are reminding people who are concerned about what other steps they can take.
“Always create a family plan in case someone is detained, they are aware of what steps other family members might take to safeguard the children especially,” said Rios.
The county directly operates about two dozen schools. This revised policy applies to these only and not every school in the county, although school districts have adopted similar policies.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
