Oceanside Unified has strengthened campus security and provided front-office staff with scripts and training to use if ICE agents appear on school grounds. The changes follow federal policy shifts that removed limits on immigration arrests at "sensitive locations." The district also tightened visitor controls and posted restricted-area signage, while state guidance says ICE may not enter non-public areas or buses without a judicial warrant. Officials and unions emphasize protecting students and minimizing disruptions to learning.
Oceanside Schools Tighten Security and Give Staff Scripts to Keep ICE Off Campuses
The Trump administration's increased immigration enforcement has turned classrooms into battlegrounds to defend students.
California's Oceanside Unified School District has strengthened campus security and given front-office staff written scripts and training to use if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents appear on school grounds, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
The moves come amid heightened federal immigration enforcement after the Trump administration rescinded a prior policy that had discouraged arrests at so-called "sensitive locations" such as schools, places of worship and hospitals. District leaders say they are taking preventive, student-centered steps to protect families and maintain safe learning environments.
Attorney General Rob Bonta announced last month that "approximately 133,000 undocumented children attend California’s public K-12 schools, and many more have parents or relatives who do not have legal status."
What the District Is Doing
Oceanside Unified serves a large Latino student population, and the Union-Tribune notes that roughly one in eight students is an English learner. Front-office staff now have a simple, step-by-step script to follow if immigration officers arrive. Staff also receive training on how to respond to officers on campus and how to document or record any encounters.
Physical access controls have been tightened: visitors must be buzzed in to pass the front office, new signage identifies restricted areas, and front-office notices clarify who may enter certain spaces. The district also offers optional, more in-depth training led by its immigration response team.
The Trump administration's increased immigration enforcement has turned classrooms into battlegrounds to defend students.
State Guidance And Legal Limits
State guidance—summarized in a 59-page document cited by local reporting—says ICE agents should not enter non-public school areas, including the inside of school buses or other student-transport vehicles, without a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or court order. Oceanside Unified told Fox News Digital that it is following updated state laws and that board policies on law-enforcement interactions predate 2020.
“Approximately 133,000 undocumented children attend California’s public K–12 schools,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta noted, underscoring the scale of students and families potentially affected by immigration enforcement.
Community Response
Concerns about enforcement on school grounds grew after the recent fatal shooting of an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Teachers unions and local educators have called for keeping ICE away from schools to avoid disrupting education and to protect students and staff. The American Federation of Teachers and local unions issued statements urging that schools remain safe, non-confrontational spaces for learning.
District officials say their approach combines practical security measures, staff preparedness, and coordination with community organizations to reduce fear and ensure that campuses remain focused on education.
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