California school district refuses to follow state immigration guidance
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A school district in California told Fox News Digital on Thursday that it was not following the state’s updated guidance on immigration enforcement.
Counties across the state were expected to be updated Government guidance until 1 March To ensure the protection of students from immigration enforcement.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta Announced December 2025 “Nearly 133,000 undocumented children attend California’s public K-12 schools, and many more have parents or relatives without legal status.”
But the Lakeside Union School District in southern California believes this effort is merely political.
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There are approximately 133,000 undocumented children attending public K-12 schools in California. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
“At Lakeside, we believe in the rule of law. I refuse to put my district’s federal funding and the students it serves at risk by opposing federal law enforcement. It is not the job of our teachers or school secretaries to oppose law enforcement. This is wrong,” said Lakeside Unified School District Trustee Andrew Hayes. Fox News Digital.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond compulsory school districts Update its policies by “limiting immigration enforcement assistance to public schools to the fullest extent possible in accordance with federal and state law and ensuring that public schools remain safe and accessible to all California residents regardless of immigration status.”
In February, Hayes joined the chorus of California school board members accusing California education officials and teachers unions of “fearmongering” over immigration enforcement as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was criticized for the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
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School board members reacted to Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho reporting earlier this year that students would miss classes for the second half of the 2025-2026 school year due to concerns about immigration enforcement.
President Donald Trump’s administration has taken aggressive action on immigration enforcement. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Responding to allegations of fear-mongering by school board members, the State Department said Homeland Security (DHS) told Fox News Digital on Thursday that it does not enter schools to arrest children.
“ICE doesn’t go into schools to arrest children. We protect children. Criminals can no longer hide in America’s schools to avoid arrest,” the spokesperson said.
“The Trump administration will not tie the hands of brave law enforcement officers and instead trusts them to use discretion. If a dangerous, illegal alien criminal escapes into a school or a child sex offender is working as an employee, there may be a situation where an arrest is made to protect public safety.”
Hayes doubled down on Fox News Digital, saying the guidance the state has issued is pure fanfare.
“This ‘model’ policy is purely political and not about children. This is all a ruse to advance Gavin Newsom’s political agenda. The truth is that ICE is not coming to schools,” Hayes said.
“This is a narrative created by left-wing activists to instill fear and reduce enrollment so they can beg Newsom for more money to cover up the failures of the Sacramento education bureaucracy to properly educate our children.”
The trustee claimed that his statement “reflected the views” of his colleagues.
The school district told Fox News Digital it “had no comment regarding Board member Hayes’ statements.”
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The Trump administration’s stepped-up crackdown on illegal immigration and deportation efforts has caused some schools to take action.
Oceanside Unified School District in San Diego County increased security and provided scripts for staff to “keep ICE out of schools.” Visitors must enter with a buzzer to enter the front desk. Front office signs have been updated, and signs indicating restricted areas for students and staff have been hung.
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho reported earlier this year that students were missing classes for the second semester of the 2025-2026 school year due to concerns about immigration enforcement. (Walter Cicchetti/Getty Images)
“OUSD is following updated state laws on this issue, but campus law enforcement practices have been part of our board policy since 2020,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital in January.
Newsom’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
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The article has been updated to include a statement from the Lakeside Union School District.
