Elected leaders condemn Trump’s ICE for creating arrest ‘hunting grounds’ near schools

Elected leaders condemn Trump’s ICE for creating arrest ‘hunting grounds’ near schools ‘Schools are supposed to be a safe place for young people to learn, yet this administration exploits the places we trust most’ - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Community leaders and public officials have voiced sharp criticism over two recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations conducted near educational institutions, labeling the actions as cruel and exploitative. According to the San Diego Community College District, federal agents detained one individual near San Diego City College on Wednesday while chasing another person directly onto the campus premises. In a separate enforcement action in Chollas Creek, ICE officers reportedly took two parents into custody as they were dropping their child off at John Marshall Elementary School. "I am deeply troubled by reports that students and parents were detained without warning while trying to attend classes or bring kids to school," said Rep. Scott Peters. "Schools are supposed to be a safe place for young people to learn. Yet this administration exploits the places we trust most — schools, childcare facilities, hospitals, courthouses and places of worship. President Trump has turned these places into hunting grounds.” "Parents and children should not have to worry about ICE agents waiting outside a classroom or a doctor's office. That's why I led introduction of the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would bar immigration enforcement within 1,000 feet of schools, hospitals and churches except in true emergencies. I will also continue working with SDUSD and City College to make sure San Diegans have the resources they need to stay informed and protected." Mayor Todd Gloria echoed those concerns, condemning the disruption to family life. "No parent should have to fear being separated from their family simply for dropping their child off at school," he said. "Actions like these inflict fear and trauma far beyond those who are detained. Children are left wondering whether their parents will come home. Families may become afraid to take their children to school. And educators are forced to help children navigate fear and uncertainty that no child should have to experience. "This is cruel, unnecessary and counterproductive. It does nothing to make our communities safer." ABC10 reported that the Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Thursday the identities of the two parents arrested outside John Marshall Elementary as James Mervil and Josselene Polidor, stating they had overstayed their visas. Neither ICE nor DHS were immediately available to respond to requests for comment. The San Diego Education Association, which represents the majority of teachers within the San Diego Unified School District, issued a firm condemnation of the arrests. "FEDERAL POL(ICE) are snatching parents and college students off our streets, traumatizing our students, educators, education workers, families and communities. This is unethical. This is unacceptable. This ends now," the statement read. "Our members watch children walk into classrooms carrying fear they should never have to carry. They console kids who do not know if their parent will be home tonight. They see young people pulled from college classrooms and campuses, their education and futures interrupted without warning. Our members are being asked to hold communities together while the federal government tears families apart. We see it. We feel it. And we will not pretend this is normal." District representatives stated that the incident near the college occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday when ICE agents operating unmarked vehicles pulled over a car near 16th and C streets. The driver was taken into custody, while the passenger ran onto the campus grounds. Officials from SDCCD identified the passenger as a San Diego City College student and noted that the driver taken into custody is also believed to attend the college. According to district statements, the pursuing federal agents "quickly stopped as they recognized they were entering a college campus. The agents went back to their vehicles and left. ICE is no longer in the area and did not engage with anyone else on campus." The precise circumstances prompting the traffic stop and subsequent arrest remain unclear. ICE did not immediately respond to inquiries. In accordance with district regulations prohibiting involvement in immigration enforcement, campus police provided no assistance to ICE officers. The district noted that federal agents exited the campus "before any district representative could engage with them." The event did not prompt a campus lockdown, and educational activities proceeded without interruption. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments