Sequoia to update response to immigrant enforcement policy

While staff know to contact the main office immediately should the situation arise, and that administrators will ensure the situation is addressed, what can or should happen in heightened moments of stress before the matter is resolved remains debated. 

An update in administrative regulation and district policy on responding to immigration enforcement was recommended for approval by Hansen, and largely informed by language provided by the California School Boards Association.

Edith Salvatore, president of the teachers’ union, said the policy as suggested includes a paragraph about teacher’s conduct with agents that she believes should not be included. 

As proposed, the policy reads “district staff shall not obstruct, interfere with, or otherwise impede, or attempt to obstruct, interfere with, or otherwise impede, any officer or employee of an agency conducting immigration enforcement, even if the officer or employee appears to be acting outside the law or in excess of the stated or documented authorization.”

To Salvatore, including this language dilutes the understanding that teachers will protect their students. 

“Our students’ safety and the safety of our community is important and we take ownership of that.” Salvatore said. “For our immigrant and undocumented students to feel safe and supported on our campuses, they need to know that we will protect them.” 

Hansen said she recommended the language, as written by CSBA, to protect staff and students. 

“I agree with not standing by and letting bad things happen to our students,” Hansen said. “I worry a well-intentioned staff member, or a student that gets highly agitated by what is happening in front of them, could do something that would hurt themselves.” 

Trustees weighed the importance of including the paragraph, some said omitting it suggests it’s OK to interfere with federal agents, and others recognizing the implication it may have on perceived protection of students.

“This is an opportunity for the trustees to show that they understand that the world of immigration enforcement that existed when [the policy] was approved in 2019 is not the landscape we find ourselves in today,” Salvatore said. 

Hansen added that while she, and many others, would in fact interfere in the case of an emergency that placed a student at risk, it should be understood that action may result in consequences. 

“I’m not saying it’s smart, I’m not saying it’s the right thing to do,” Hansen said. “My concern with this policy is, I know that. I know that if I interfered … I would be facing prosecution. I don’t think it’s fair to our staff to lead them under the impression that they would not be.” 

The proposed policy and regulation follows the CSBA recommendation closely, but adds the instruction that SUHSD staff should immediately contact their school’s office for administrative support. 

It also omits a particular sentence that was recommended by CSBA, because Hansen felt it was unnecessary, due to similar concerns Salvatore raised. The sentence removed stated that employees were to, no matter what, obey what a federal office told them to do, Hansen said. 

The policy and regulation will be an action item at the board’s March 18 meeting, when the trustees will discuss the matter further and adopt the finalized language.