In light of federal troops, including Customs/Border Protection, being deployed to Coast Guard Island this week, Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) Supervisor Pasquale Scuderi [1] issued a statement acknowledging concerns among AUSD families, staff, and students.
[2]“We want to remind everyone that AUSD is committed to protecting the rights of all of our students and staff—regardless of their immigration or citizenship status—and we are committed to maintaining safe and protected campuses,” Scuderi stated. He noted that the district continues to verify, confirm, and monitor the latest information about the situation.
“We have protocols for responding to ICE agents/federal law enforcement if they come to one of our campuses, and we have trained our school leaders in those protocols,” the statement said. “We will also continue to follow all state and federal laws that require us to:
- Protect the right of all children— regardless of citizenship, immigration status, or the immigration status of their parents—to attend school.
- Protect the right of all students to be free from discrimination, harassment, violence, and intimidation while at school.”
Scuderi emphasized that the district understands that these are difficult times. “Please know that we are doing everything we can to keep all students and staff safe,” he assured. “We ask that you help us with this by reporting directly to a principal or to AUSD if you see ICE agents or federal law enforcement activity at or near a school campus.”
Scuderi directed students and families to call Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership (ACILEP) at 510-241-4011 for rapid response and immigration legal services, and to visit the AUSD Immigrant and Refugee Resources webpage [3] for more information.
He also asked the school community to “be thoughtful” about what they post online and what they read and believe online about potential ICE visits. “Inaccurate information can cause unnecessary panic across the community and disproportionately impact families most vulnerable in these situations,” Scuderi noted. “And we are all safer and more effective when we are responding to what’s actually happening than we are when we are chasing after and reacting to inaccurate information or even misinformation.”
The Superintendent’s statement ended with a reminder that, “Our well-being as a community is the sum total of our efforts to look out for and care for one another consistently” and the assurance that “our school leadership teams will do their part to both adhere to and implement our protective and legal protocols, as well as lead with care and compassion for all.”