Since the presidential transition, with the promise of mass deportations, immigrants have been on edge, in fear of ICE. The Trump administration’s commitment to deporting millions of undocumented immigrants, particularly those with serious criminal histories, has intensified anxiety within immigrant communities.
The fear has only grown as federal policies have expanded the scope of deportation priorities, now affecting not just those with criminal records, but also individuals with minor offenses or even no criminal history. The uncertainty surrounding these policies has led to a heightened sense of vulnerability, with families torn apart and communities living in fear of sudden, unexpected raids.
Superintendent Zandra Jo Galvan has committed to helping both students and their families organize community workshops, hosting parent meetings, and providing resources to help families understand their legal rights and create emergency plans. “We’ve been actively communicating with our parents through workshops and parent meetings, helping them understand their rights,” Galvan said. California lawmakers are proposing steps to protect K-12 students and families from mass deportations. The steps lawmakers have taken to protect students and families are by working on bills that would limit federal agents’ ability to enter schools without a warrant and restrict the sharing of student and family information with federal authorities.
A community meeting was also held on February 12 to reinforce the district’s stance on school safety. District leaders have made it clear that schools are safe spaces where immigration officers cannot take students without proper legal documentation, and anyone requesting a student must already be approved by the parents. Everything they talked about in the meeting is on Promoting a Safe and Secure Learning Environment for All from California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
The district has distributed red cards, which can be used when being questioned by ICE or any immigration agents. The red cards let people know and help assert their constitutional rights to immigration agents. What if you don’t have a red card or have lost it? Schools will always have extra red cards all you have to do is ask at the front office and if the school doesn’t have any, they can always restock. The district has set a goal to remind everyone about their rights and how to respond when immigration officers are in proximity or attempt to engage with us.
One of the key protections in place is the “protected area” policy, which designates schools as safe zones where immigration enforcement is prohibited from entering without a valid legal reason. This policy makes sure that ICE officers can’t come onto school campuses to arrest or question students unless it’s a serious situation like child abuse or a safety threat. The goal of this policy is to keep schools a safe place for all students, so they don’t have to worry about immigration raids while they’re trying to get an education.
Schools, recognizing this, have taken steps to protect their students, ensuring that educational environments remain safe and accessible, despite the prevailing fears and challenges that immigrant families face in their daily lives. Alisal has done its part to help. “We hosted an immigration forum with Luis Alejo for the community,” Principal Christina Perez said. “We also want to reassure students we are working diligently to ensure their right to an education and we are consistently following updates from the district.”
There’s also concern about reaching adults who don’t have access to technology or aren’t familiar with it. To fix this, schools are trying to ensure information is shared in different languages and in ways everyone can understand. Galvan says that for adults who don’t have access to the internet, they can go to schools and ask for the information.
The challenges immigrant families face, along with changing policies, make the district’s role in supporting them even more important. By continuing to educate families, protecting their rights, and keeping schools safe for all students, schools can offer a sense of security in an uncertain time. “No matter what happens at the state or national level, our community will remain strong and united,” Superintendent Galvan said. “We will do everything we can to ensure that everyone feels safe and supported here in Salinas.”
