U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested a parent outside a Chula Vista school on Wednesday morning, officials said.
School officials said the incident occurred outside Enrique Camarena Elementary School during the morning drop-off period, but not on school property.
“The Chula Vista Elementary School District is committed to supporting every student, regardless of immigration status, and our highest priorities are our students’ safety, education, and well-being,” the school district said in a statement. “The district remains committed to reassuring families that CVESD remains a safe space for all students.”
One of the Trump administration’s first actions upon being sworn in was to rescind a Biden-era guidance that restricted immigration enforcement operations “in or near” places deemed “protected areas,” including schools, places of worship and medical facilities. At the time, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the Trump administration “will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”
Patrick Divver, the field office director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in San Diego, confirmed the arrest of the woman. He said that an immigration judge had ordered her deportation in absentia on July 15, 2022.
“The arrest was part of ICE’s ongoing enforcement efforts and was resolved promptly, safely, and not on the school grounds,” he said Thursday.
Superintendent Eduardo Reyes addressed the incident in a letter sent Wednesday to families and staff, saying that the district has “strong protocols in place to prevent unauthorized access to our schools.”
Reyes added that “while our schools are secure, we recognize that families may face challenges outside of school.”
He encouraged parents to create a plan for the district to care for their children in the event they are unable to be dropped off or picked up “due to unforeseen circumstances.” He also directed parents to the district website to review resources on navigating changes in immigration policies.