School Districts Respond to Immigration Enforcement Operations
Several O.C. school districts took to social media to declare schools as "safe havens" amid ICE raids.
An apparent escalation in federal immigration enforcement in Southern California has school districts in Orange County’s immigrant-rich neighborhoods responding.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations were reported in Santa Ana on Monday, according to Voice of OC. Local politicians, activists, and others demonstrated near the Civic Center Plaza in Santa Ana that afternoon. Some protests turned violent and led to clashes with law enforcement and arrests.
President Trump ordered members of the California National Guard to come in, against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Their armored vehicles were blocking roadways on Tuesday, as seen in an Associated Press livestream.
Amid the activity, several Orange County school districts took to social media to address concerns about ICE, breaking up their posts about graduation ceremonies and the start of summer school to offer support.
“We are aware of ongoing immigration enforcement activity in the Santa Ana Civic Center area. We urge everyone to exercise caution and prioritize safety,” read a post from the Santa Ana Unified School District that also encouraged families to contact their local school if they need information. “Our schools are safe havens— places of learning, compassion, and hope,” the district wrote in a separate post.
Santa Ana USD Board of Education Trustee Valerie Magdaleno spoke at a press conference on Tuesday condemning the actions of ICE and demanding the National Guard leave the city.
"Like many of you, I am horrified by the actions taken by the Department of Homeland Security," Magdaleno said, encouraging people to continue staging peaceful protests. "We will not be silenced," she vowed.
Walter Muñeton, a board member of the Garden Grove Unified School District, also spoke at the June 10 press conference. In a June 9 post on Instagram, Muñeton wrote that he was “deeply disappointed” to learn of immigration enforcement activity in the community, including within his trustee area but reassured families the district will support them.
“Even with summer school in session, our commitment to safety, inclusion, and support remains strong. Schools must always be safe havens – places where every student feels welcomed and protected,” he wrote.
Muñeton and Garden Grove Unified are encouraging people to contact the O.C. Rapid Response Network, what the district called a “coalition of attorneys, law school clinics, nonprofits and community leaders working together to respond to immigration enforcement and protect the rights of individuals.”
According to the Migration Policy Institute, an estimated 12,000 school-aged children in Orange County lack legal status. Around 15% of the county’s population lives in a “mixed-status” household with at least one family member who is undocumented, according to the 2025 USC Equity Research Institute study.
The Fullerton School District has been proactive in its efforts to support immigrant families. Earlier in the school year, it hosted forums to answer questions and connected families with community resources, including agencies offering legal advice.
The district shared this message on Instagram on June 10: “We stand united in care and compassion. In times of uncertainty, knowledge is power.” The post reminded readers of the district’s in-person Summer Support program and directed people to FSD's immigration resources page online.
In an email to Spotlight Schools, FSD Board of Education Trustee Vanesa Estrella shared that district families have told her they are being directly impacted by the ICE operations.
"I want our community to know: We see you. We stand with you. You are not alone," Estrella wrote. She said the FSD is working with the O.C.-based Camino Immigration Services and advised families to reach out to Jenny Saul at (714) 447-2887 at the Nicolas Community Center with questions. The district will also be holding an Informational Parent Meeting on Immigration Concerns on August 7.
"My message to our families is this: Knowledge is power. Know your rights. Empower your families with the resources available," Estrella wrote.
The Anaheim Elementary School District is also sharing resources with families. A June 10 Instagram post on the district's account stated: "Every child has the right to a public education in California, no matter their immigration status. Our schools do not collect immigration information from families, and immigration enforcement agents are not allowed on school campuses without proper legal authority."
The Anaheim Union High School District reiterated its commitment to an Immigration Enforcement Policy that is in place to “ensure the protection, privacy, and dignity of our students and families.”
“For families whose children are currently attending summer school, we want to assure you that our site administrators have been reminded of our district’s expectations and have received clear direction on the proper protocols to follow,” the district shared in a recent post on Instagram.
The district is hosting a virtual "Know Your Rights" forum on June 16 where families will hear from legal experts and community partners about immigration-related issues and "discuss how AUHSD continues to prioritize the safety and well-being of all students."
During this important conversation, legal experts and community partners will provide helpful information on immigration-related issues and discuss how AUHSD continues to prioritize the safety and well-being of all students.
— Anaheim Union High School District (@AnaheimUHSD) June 11, 2025
Zoom Meeting Link:https://t.co/jInYtXQyKf
For years, schools were not targets of ICE agents. When President Trump took office, there was a shift in Department of Homeland Security policy to allow arrests and operations on or near TK-12 campuses.
Spotlight Schools has not learned of any student or adult in Orange County being taken into ICE custody at a local public school. In April, federal agents visited two elementary schools in L.A. seeking to speak with students but were denied access.
Local and state leaders appear dedicated to continuing to block immigration enforcement at California schools and at school events. This week, the Los Angeles Unified School District announced it would use school police to “set up a safety perimeter around campuses and school events — including graduations — to keep federal immigration agents away from students, employees and families,” reported the L.A. Times. Meanwhile in Sacramento, the bill SB 48, which would shield schools from ICE enforcement with new rules, recently passed the State Senate.
A backer of the bill, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, issued a statement in response to ICE operations that read: “Innocent children should never be in handcuffs, and families should never be torn apart by our government.”
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Jeannette Andruss