In a climate of heightened immigration enforcement, fear and uncertainty have become a daily reality for many families across the country and in our community at Skyline High School.
However, staff and students have been preparing for the possibility of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcements) coming to campus. ICE has been showing up around the country to arrest those suspected of being in the United States without legal documents. Some have been detained and then deported.
In mandatory training, district officials briefed staff on Oakland Unified School District protocols in what they said was the unlikely event of ICE coming to Skyline or another school.
The school board recently mandated yearly training on ICE protocols for all staff, according to newcomer teacher and teachers union representative Jimmy Barbuto.
The training covered the basics of OUSD’s responsibility as a sanctuary district towards those who might be targeted by ICE. OUSD states on its website that “students will not be discriminated against because of their actual or perceived immigrant status.” It states OUSD “will not seek information about immigration status, and will take steps to protect personally identifiable information for being used for immigration enforcement to the extent possible.”
When discussing the training, Mr. Barbuto stressed that “students have a right in the United States to an education, regardless of immigration status.”
Those rights and others have been explained during “Know Your Rights” workshops, which have been held for families and classrooms since Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20 and promised to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.
Meanwhile, red cards with advice on what to say and do if approached by ICE have also been distributed to students by some teachers and youth organizations on campus. The cards have English on one side and a second language on the back.
Principal Rebecca Huang said one of the most important things the school community is doing is holding family workshops in several languages.
Ms. Huang also said that while there has been no ICE activity at Skyline to date, key staff -including front gate personnel, culture keepers, administrators and case managers -have been properly trained on what to do should situation occur.
In addition, Ms. Huang specified that if ICE agents were to come to the gates, they would need a signed warrant to enter. Staff would “direct them to the legal department in our central office.. but if they run through and jam on right by you, then immediately, we call our central department and let them know.”
Tatum Ochoa O’Sullivan, a social worker who works closely with Skyline newcomers, said she has noticed an increased sense of fear among students regarding immigration issues.
“It seems like these laws and these immigration tactics are targeting and criminalizing groups of an already marginalized population,” she said.
Skyline English teacher Casey Dolan has similar concerns. “The ICE presence, not just this year, but in previous years, causes a lot of anxiety, even if students aren’t openly talking about it,” she said.
ASB President Inara Shafiq wants students to feel safe. “I’d like the community to understand how dangerous this time can be for not just undocumented people, ‘but anyone that ‘looks like they don’t belong here,'” she said, using air quotes. “Every single student and person that’s here deserves to be here and has a tremendous amount of value here. And we want to make sure that you’re safe.”
For help with immigration: OUSD Immigrant Youth Specialist (510-957-8210); OUSD Legal Department (510-922-0061); and Centro Legal (510-437-1554)
