FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact:
James Canning, jcanning@sandi.net, 313-580-2845
Mike Murad, mmurad@sandi.net, 619-925-4790
SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOLS HAD ZERO CONFIRMED REPORTS OF ICE AGENTS ON CAMPUSES
AFTER LAUNCHING ITS 'PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS' INFORMATION CAMPAIGN IN DECEMBER 2024
District Credits Commitment to Educator Trainings and Information Sharing with Students & Families
SAN DIEGO (JUNE 5, 2025) – San Diego Unified School District and its Board of Education took proactive steps last December to prepare their own educators, students and families for the possible uncertainties the Trump Administration might create for Immigrant rights, LGBTQIA rights and the rights of other marginalized groups. As a result, the District said Wednesday it has no confirmed reports of ICE agents on its campuses.
Other actions San Diego Unified highlighted as efforts to protect and support its students and their families included:
- 656 students and adults were provided with services at five Newcomer Welcome Centers during the 2024-25 School Year.
- 4 different staff trainings conducted by its Investigations, Compliance, and Accountability (ICA) and Equity & Belonging.
- 2 non-profit entities - Jewish Family Service and Community Law Project – provided legal guidance to students and families by setting up regular office hours at schools with high concentration of immigrant populations
- Conducted numerous "Know Your Rights presentations for newcomer students
- Distributed 10,000 red cards that have information on them to inform individuals of their rights when interacting with law enforcement, especially Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They are designed to be easily accessible and understandable, acting as a quick reference guide to constitutional rights.
- The Protecting Our Students webpage was visited nearly 10,000 times in the first 2 months of its release, 10-times more than the next highest viewed page on the Equity and Belonging website. The website and resources were viewed by users in 43 states and over 20 countries.
- Several training documents, templates, and resources were shared with staff along with weekly updates on new resources and incidents of ICE presence in the community.
- ICA provided training, and information highlighting the District's policies prohibiting discrimination, harassment and bullying based on legally protected classes under state and federal laws, including immigration status, race, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. They also provided links to the District's reporting website, and ensured all reported concerns alleging misconduct were investigated and resolved in accordance with District policies and procedures.
"We wanted to maintain a school environment where our students and their families felt confident that they would be free from the challenges created by the politics in Washington, D.C., and I think we have done a good job of it so far," said Dr. Fabi Bagula, San Diego Unified Superintendent (Interim). "Our approach going forward will be to do more of the same, but with a willingness to adjust our strategy as the actions taken federally require. We're going to do what is necessary to ensure our students can continue to dream boldly and learn authentically while in school."
The landscape of diversity initiatives in education has undergone significant changes following recent federal policy shifts. The U.S. Department of Education has taken action to "eliminate harmful Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives," removing hundreds of guidance documents and resources from its website. This represents a dramatic reversal of previous federal priorities. In anticipation of this, last December San Diego Unified proactively:
- Created a new website (www.sdusdequity.com/protecting-students) to help students, families and staff better understand their rights and access information about laws, resources and service providers.
- Conducted training with District staff to ensure they are able to support students, families and their colleagues should instances of discrimination, harassment and retaliation occur on their school campuses.
- The Board of Education passed a resolution to reaffirm the San Diego Unified School District as a Welcoming District for All Students. (Link Here)
"We have a responsibility to ensure every child who enters our classrooms knows this is a place where they are welcome, can express themselves freely, and where they will get a quality education no matter their race, religion, gender, gender identity, country of origin or economic status. That is our commitment no matter what Trump says or does," said Richard Barrera, Vice President & Trustee, San Diego Unified School District Board of Education.
The San Diego County Office of Education has encouraged local schools to do what San Diego Unified has done: review state laws and existing policies around immigration enforcement and student privacy, provide resources to educate students and families of their rights, and to do everything they can to ensure schools are free of discrimination and harassment.
"As an educator of more than 30 years and the first Latina superintendent of schools in San Diego County, I'm here to say that every child in our region deserves love, respect, and care while in our schools. They deserve to learn and grow without fear. And they need adults who will keep taking the next right step to ensure they have a future in this region they call home," said Dr. Gloria E. Ciriza, San Diego County Superintendent of Schools.
A District principal also discussed steps they took to help students navigate politically charged differences with their peers.
"We tell our students that it's not enough to simply say they belong; we must show them. At UCHS, we try to show them through how we listen, how we respond, and how we make room for complexity," said Michael Paredes, Principal, University City High School. "This work isn't easy, and it's not perfect, but it is intentional and ongoing. Our students are not just participants in it; they're leading it."
San Diego Unified has also partnered with Jewish Family Service and California Western Community Law Project to provide students and their families complementary guidance about issues of immigration to ensure they are aware of their rights.
"In partnership with the San Diego Unified School District, Jewish Family Service of San Diego is providing no-cost immigration legal services to students and families in the City Heights area who are directly impacted by federal immigration policy changes. Many of these folks need immediate access to immigration attorneys that can help them assess their cases and answer their questions," said JFS Executive Director of Immigration Services Luis Gonzalez, Esq. "Through one-on-one legal consultations, we're able to explain their unique immigration status and the next steps to take with their case. No one should stand alone in our community."
"California Western School of Law's Community Law Project (CLP) operates legal clinics and engages in community education throughout San Diego County, providing individuals with critical information about their legal rights," said Dana Sisitsky, Esq., Clinical Professor and Executive Director, California Western Community Law Project. "Providing services on site at San Diego area schools allows CLP to assist the community in environments that are supportive, and where families are comfortable. We are proud to partner with the San Diego Unified School District in their efforts to protect students and families."
Also in attendance at today's press conference was Ebonee Weathers, Executive Director, Equity & Belonging and Farshad M. Talebi, Executive Director, Office of Investigations, Compliance & Accountability for San Diego Unified School District, Luis Gonzalez, Executive Director of Immigration Services, Jewish Family Service, Dana Sisitsky, Esq., Clinical Professor and Executive Director, California Western Community Law Project, Steven Dorsey, Area Superintendent, San Diego Unified School District, Gabriel Nunez Moran, Area Superintendent, San Diego Unified School District, Marissa Allen, Senior Executive Director of Instruction, San Diego Unified School District and Cody Petterson, Board President, San Diego Unified School District, and Alicia Munoz, Trustee, San Diego County Office of Education.
Here's what some of them have said about San Diego Unified's efforts to Protect its students:
"When students feel safe and supported, they're able to fully engage in their learning and reach their full potential," said Shana Hazan, Trustee, San Diego Unified School District. "That's why our Board and District team are committed to creating school environments that reduce stress, promote wellness, and provide the stable, nurturing relationships every child needs to thrive. This is the work that often goes unnoticed and is essential to ensuring all students feel welcome, protected, and empowered to succeed."
Newcomer Welcome Centers
Newcomer Welcome Centers—a new initiative in the 2024-25 School Year that has significantly transformed how San Diego Unified supports newcomer students and their families. Prior to their establishment, families often faced challenges navigating our system and accessing essential resources. The Welcome Centers now serve as centralized hubs where newcomer students and their families can receive coordinated, culturally responsive support from multilingual staff composed of teachers, a counselor, family service assistants, and other interpreters as needed. The Newcomer Welcome Centers are located at five high school campuses.
San Diego Unified Welcome Centers provided 656 students and adults services at Welcome Centers, including: provided include basic needs, community referrals and academic and social, emotional learning.
Other Actions
The District back in December also:
- Established a new internal equity, civil rights, & safety reporting hotline for school administrators.
- Updated guidance on accessing the District's online incident reporting form. Students or staff wanting to report equity, civil rights, or safety concerns can use the online reporting form here.
- Established an Equity, Civil Rights, and Safety Task Force to monitor incidents of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, and take appropriate action to address negative trends.
To learn about San Diego Unified School District, please visit www.SanDiegoUnified.org.
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James Canning (He/Him)
Executive Director, Strategic Communications & Information
San Diego Unified School District
jcanning@sandi.net | www.sandiegounified.org
Mobile Phone: 313-580-2845
4100 Normal Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Note: I may send and respond to emails outside of my normal workday or workweek. Please do not feel obligated to reply outside of your normal work schedule. Thank you.
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