Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), along with U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), and Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement activity around schools and educational institutions in San Diego County.

In a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the lawmakers raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of San Diego County students, parents, families, and staff who have faced several instances of ICE enforcement actions.

“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,” wrote the lawmakers.

Since the start of the school year, there have been disturbing incidents where ICE officers have detained parents and students near educational institutions across San Diego County.

“Schools and institutions of higher education have long been places where students feel safe enough to learn, belong, and achieve their academic dreams without their lives being uprooted. Schools should not become the backdrop for immigration enforcement activity, nor should parents have to choose between bringing their children to school and fearing that they may be detained in the process,” continued the lawmakers. “As back to school season continues, we demand that you end all ICE activity in the immediate vicinity of schools and college campuses, particularly during school arrival and dismissal times.”

Senator Padilla has been a leader against the harsh and cruel operations of ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under the Trump Administration. Last year, Padilla cosponsored Senator Richard Blumenthal’s (D-Conn.) Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, legislation that would prevent immigration enforcement officers from taking enforcement actions at sensitive locations. Last month, Padilla called on DHS and ICE to immediately halt the planned purchase of electric shock gloves and demanded answers about the circumstances that led ICE to pursue the acquisition. Padilla also called out the Trump Administration’s continued abuses of power through the carrying out of their violent mass deportation agenda and inhumane treatment of detained immigrants. In June, Padilla, pressed Mullin and ICE Acting Director David Venturella on the staggering death toll at ICE detention centers. Padilla also condemned Republicans’ partisan bill to provide ICE and CBP with an extra $70 billion without necessary reforms and forced a vote on his amendment that would require ICE agents to wear body cameras while on-duty.

The full letter is available HERE and below:

Dear Secretary Mullin,

We write in strong opposition to the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement activity in and around schools and educational institutions in San Diego County. Over the past several weeks, ICE agents have detained parents and students near multiple educational institutions, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of our students, parents, families, and educators.  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 San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), on September 9, ICE agents detained two parents after they dropped off their children at John Marshall Elementary School in Chollas Creek.  And this is not an isolated incident. During last year’s back-to-school season, several parents were also arrested by ICE or other federal agents while on their way to or from school pick-up and drop-off lines.

These concerns extend to institutions of higher education as well. On September 8, the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) confirmed that ICE arrested one individual and pursued another near a college campus.  College officials confirmed that the driver and passengers were students at San Diego City College. Schools have reported that the presence of ICE officials outside a college campus is highly disruptive and can discourage students from attending classes and accessing campus resources.

These incidents are concerning because immigration enforcement activity near schools can have an impact on all students and families, even when enforcement does not occur directly on school property. ICE activity near schools destabilizes the sense of safety schools offer and places an additional burden on school staff and local communities.  The fear among students and families that these incidents cause can also likely negatively impact a student’s educational engagement, mental and physical health, academic performance, and developmental trajectories.

Schools and institutions of higher education have long been places where students feel safe enough to learn, belong, and achieve their academic dreams without their lives being uprooted. Schools should not become the backdrop for immigration enforcement activity, nor should parents have to choose between bringing their children to school and fearing that they may be detained in the process. As back to school season continues, we demand that you end all ICE activity in the immediate vicinity of schools and college campuses, particularly during school arrival and dismissal times.

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