DAVIS, Calif. — In another indication of how federal immigration enforcement is affecting communities across California, the Davis Joint Unified School District has issued a public reminder to families that all students have the right to attend school, regardless of immigration status, and that safeguards are in place to protect students from immigration enforcement activities on campus.
The district’s Oct. 23 message, titled “In DJUSD, We All Belong,” came just three days after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent struck a U.S. citizen with a vehicle in nearby Woodland, an incident that prompted a criminal investigation and raised concerns about federal immigration enforcement operations in Yolo County.
“In light of recent immigration enforcement activity in our region, we understand that some of our students and families may be feeling concerned or uncertain about their safety,” the district stated.
The communication comes as immigration enforcement concerns have extended beyond immigration proceedings into schools and neighborhoods, prompting local educational institutions to address questions about student safety and families’ rights.
“We want to reassure our DJUSD community that every student has the right to a free public education and deserves to feel safe, supported and welcome at school, regardless of immigration status,” the district stated.
The announcement follows a highly publicized Oct. 20 incident in Woodland, where an ICE agent struck Antonio Moreida, a U.S. citizen and volunteer with NorCal Resist, as he documented federal immigration enforcement activity in a residential neighborhood.
The Woodland Police Department subsequently determined that Moreida was struck by a vehicle driven by an ICE agent, contradicting the Department of Homeland Security’s assertion that he had jumped onto the vehicle’s hood.
Police said video evidence established that Moreida did not jump onto the hood or slide off the vehicle, as federal officials had claimed.
Investigators also determined that the agent applied the brakes before the collision and remained at the scene, contacting Woodland police and cooperating with the initial investigation.
ICE subsequently maintained that Moreida had interfered with an enforcement operation by standing in the roadway and said its officers had attempted to avoid hitting him.
The incident prompted calls for accountability from Rep. Mike Thompson and other local elected officials.
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla said Thursday that the ICE agent involved remained on active duty, while Woodland police continued a criminal investigation expected to be forwarded to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office for review.
The incident also raised concerns about the presence of federal immigration authorities in residential neighborhoods, particularly after Moreida and Woodland Mayor Tom Stallard reported that a vehicle associated with federal immigration enforcement appeared near Moreida’s home following the collision. The identity of its occupants and the reason for its presence have not been independently established.
Although DJUSD did not specifically identify the Woodland incident in its announcement, the collision and the conflicting accounts from federal and local authorities provide immediate context for the concerns about immigration enforcement that the district is seeking to address.
The district’s message represents a reaffirmation of policies adopted nearly a decade ago, when the Board of Education approved its We All Belong Resolution in February 2017.
The resolution established the district’s commitment to providing an inclusive educational environment for students and families, including those who may be affected by federal immigration policies.
Now, nine years later, the district is reminding families of those protections in response to renewed concerns about immigration enforcement.
The district identified four areas of protection intended to reassure families.
First, every child has the right to attend public school regardless of immigration status.
“Our schools are for everyone. All students have the right to attend public school, regardless of immigration status. This is the law,” the district stated.
That protection is rooted in the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe, which held that states cannot deny children access to public education based on their immigration status.
The ruling remains a foundational protection for children whose families may lack lawful immigration status, ensuring that access to public education does not depend on a child’s citizenship or immigration classification.
Second, the district stated that its campuses have established safeguards governing immigration enforcement activities.
“Immigration enforcement officials cannot enter nonpublic areas of our schools without a signed judicial warrant,” DJUSD stated.
California law establishes additional procedures for school officials responding to immigration enforcement requests, including restrictions on providing access to nonpublic areas without appropriate legal authorization.
Third, DJUSD reminded families that it does not inquire about or collect the immigration status of students or their families.
“DJUSD does not ask about or collect student or family immigration status, and records are protected by state and federal privacy laws,” the district stated.
Federal student privacy protections, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, limit the disclosure of education records, while California law provides additional protections relating to immigration status and access to public education.
Fourth, the district said its employees have established procedures for responding to immigration-related inquiries.
“DJUSD has strong procedures in place for responding to immigration related inquiries in accordance with California Department of Education guidelines,” the district stated.
The district’s announcement did not report that immigration enforcement officers had entered DJUSD campuses or that students had been detained at school.
Instead, the communication was intended to reassure families about their rights and explain the procedures governing potential encounters with federal immigration authorities.
DJUSD is not alone in addressing these concerns. Following the Woodland incident, the Woodland Joint Unified School District also communicated with families about its commitment to providing a safe and welcoming educational environment regardless of immigration status.
The messages from both school districts illustrate how immigration enforcement operations can affect public institutions beyond the immigration system itself.
Schools must maintain attendance, communicate with families and ensure that students can participate in their education without discrimination based on immigration status.
Concerns about enforcement activities can also affect families’ willingness to bring children to school, even when the children themselves are legally entitled to attend.
DJUSD’s announcement seeks to address that uncertainty by explaining the legal protections already in place rather than announcing a new district policy.
“Our commitment to providing safe, welcoming and supportive learning environments for all students remains unchanged,” the district stated.
The district is directing families to its We All Belong resources, where information about the 2017 resolution, district policies and available resources can be found.
Families with questions or concerns can contact the district at communications@djusd.net.
The announcement comes more than four decades after the Supreme Court established that children cannot be excluded from public education because of their immigration status, as local school districts again find themselves explaining those protections amid federal immigration enforcement activity in their communities.
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