In the recent months following President Donald Trump’s reelection, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids have reached a new height, altering the lives of thousands of Americans.
According to the New York Times, “The number of people in immigration detention reached a new high of more that 60,000 on Monday [August 11], breaking a modern record set during the first Trump administration, according to internal records from Immigration and Customs Enforcement” (nytimes.com).
According to Trac Reports, “Immigration and Customs Enforcement held 59,380 [people] in ICE detention according to data as of August 10, 2025 …. 41,822 out of 59,380 — or 70.4 percent — held in ICE detention have no criminal conviction according to data current as of August 10, 2025. Many of those convicted committed only minor offenses, including traffic violations” (tracreports.org).
Principal Mike Paredes said, “What strikes a lot of fear in people is what we are witnessing nationwide, what happened over the summer, what happened in LA, in parts of our city, in big metropolitan areas in California where it seems like the rules are very blurred. One thing that has remained true is that schools are not places where ICE agents have access.”
Paredes doesn’t expect ICE to make any appearances on campus and explained that the district has a clear procedure that ensures the safety of the school community at large. Teachers were requested to display a flyer in their rooms with the following information: links to preparedness plans in English and Spanish, legal services, and other essential steps including updating one’s school emergency contact information and keeping copies of important documents.
Paredes shared that red cards are available in the counseling center so that students can know their rights. These cards inform the student body of their constitutional rights and of the procedure one is recommended to follow should an immigration agent approach them or their family.
ICE agents have reportedly been seen near schools in San Diego when parents are dropping off or picking up their children. “The San Diego Unified School District said a parent was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while they were waiting to pick up their child from Linda Vista Elementary School on Thursday afternoon,” said a reporter from NBC news (nbcsandiego). According to Paredes, the parent that was detained [at Linda Vista Elementary] was about a block away from campus and was parked waiting for their child.
In May, students at UC High gathered in protest against the ICE raids. Senior Sioux Trivette was involved in organizing and leading the student protest that took place in May 2025 and said, “What motivated me was seeing others feel the same things I was feeling. Seeing that I was not alone made me want to raise awareness in our community.”
According to Trivette, there were approximately 200 students, from many different backgrounds, that engaged in the protest, walking all the way down to La Jolla Village. She said, “[The purpose was] to share experiences and spread awareness about what to do if you are put into a situation with ICE involved and to help people know their rights.”
According to KPBS, San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Fabiola Bagula said, “Let me be clear: Our schools and our neighborhoods that surround them should be off limits to enforcement actions like this. These are spaces for safety, for growth, for belonging, for joy. And there may be a lot of debates about immigration reform, but there should be no debate that this kind of tactic is inhumane.”