The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is looking into an incident that occurred at a school campus under the jurisdiction of the El Rancho Unified School District Board of Education. The school district’s administration released a video allegedly showing multiple immigration officials acting inappropriately on school premises. It is estimated that approximately eight to ten of these federal personnel were seen on campus around 9 a.m. on June 17th. After parking their vehicles, they are said to have relieved themselves publicly on the school grounds near storage containers.
The campus that underwent this inappropriate activity was Ruben Salazar High School. District officials affirmed the details mentioned in the video in a letter dispatched to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristy Noem, and the Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Todd Lyons. In response to the letter and the released video, a spokesperson from Homeland Security declared that the case is currently under review.
School district leaders characterized the conduct of the federal agents as unsuitable and deeply alarming. They emphasized the significance of this incident in light of a broader governmental effort targeting immigration enforcement in the city of Pico Rivera and several other locations in Southern California. Expressing their concern, both the Superintendent of Schools, Marco Villegas and the President of the School Board, John Contreras urged for a federal investigation to reveal the facts of this odd occurrence.
Recounting the events of June 17th, the school heads declared that nearly ten vehicles (some marked and some unmarked as ICE vehicles) were spotted in the campus parking lot. Upon discovery, school employees informed the people within the vehicles that they did not have permission to be on campus and were promptly asked to leave. After agreeing to leave, ICE agents were later seen relieving themselves in public view on the premises, an incident that was reported to the district’s executive leadership.
John Contreras, in his role as the school board president, criticized the ICE agents for trespassing on ERUSD properties and described their actions as disrespectful and unwise. He noted that the area where the incident occurred is close to a local preschool, a public park known as Smith Park, and the Valencia Academy of the Arts, which was conducting its summer session.
Superintendent Marco Villegas dispatched the formal complaint against the incident to several key figures in the political sphere. National and regional leaders such as U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Adam Schiff, State Senator Bob Archuleta, Representative Linda Sanchez, Governor Gavin Newsom, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and others were among the recipients.
The broader context of this event is a widespread effort by the Trump administration to identify and deport immigrants who are in the country illegally and have engaged in violent activities. Lyons defended ICE’s actions, stating that they primarily targeted gang members, human traffickers, and violent drug dealers. He further refuted claims suggesting ICE agents were making unwarranted arrests. Their main aim, as he reiterated, was to remove the most severe lawbreakers from the country.
In the Trump administration’s first 100 days, nearly 70% of ICE’s actions targeted ‘criminal aliens’ who were in the United States without a legal basis, with existing convictions or charges pending. DHS officials assured the public that their operations were focused with due diligence on specific individuals, ensuring they knew who their targets were in advance.
These actions, however, have led to a climate of fear among immigrant communities in the Los Angeles region, with many people choosing to stay indoors, and disruptions to community events. The operations are also seen as negatively affecting local economies that rely on immigrants. Los Angeles County Supervisor, Janice Hahn criticized the approach, dubbing it as a ‘slap in the face to our communities’ – particularly children.
The El Rancho Unified School District, comprised of more than 7,000 students in K-12 across 14 schools, including an adult education center, and high schools like Salazar High and El Rancho High, had a significant Hispanic or Latino population (94.3%). In an attempt to alleviate deportation fears among their immigrant families, the school district released a ‘Response to Immigration Enforcement’ policy in January that showed their support for all students and families, irrespective of their immigration status.
Back in Pico Rivera, where the school district is based, a recent ICE raid resulted in the arrest of two men, one of whom was demonstrated to be a 20-year-old U.S. citizen. This incident sparked considerable unrest, with over 150 residents protesting outside the city hall and town center.
In responding to these events, the City Manager, Steve Carmona, articulated his concerns about the ICE agents’ tactics and the overall tone of their actions. Others echoed these fears, with a local librarian describing her role as essential in maintaining a sense of security for the children at the school. She illustrated the impact of this fear, talking about the palpable apprehension visible on children’s faces each day.
Steps were also taken by the El Rancho Unified School Board to counter the impact of immigration-related actions. They adopted a resolution in April declaring all the schools under their jurisdiction as ‘safe havens,’ emphasizing that no law compels school districts to assist ICE in enforcing immigration laws. The ERUSD leadership wants to ensure their community knows that the safety and support provided by their schools is their priority, as outlined by John Contreras.
In their recent statement, the school board affirmed their commitment to not stand for any actions that risk the safety and wellbeing of their student and school communities. They are committed to maintaining their schools as safe havens, despite the actions of DHS and ICE. Summer school is currently ongoing at El Rancho High School, which serves breakfast and lunch to enrolled students. The school’s fall session will begin on August 14.