When President Donald Trump ran for office in 2016, he led a campaign filled with promises to crack down on illegal immigration through increased border patrol and deportation. This resulted in many immigrants in the U.S. fearing for their safety, especially those without permanent residence visas. Just one month after President Trump’s election, Berkeley Unified School District issued a statement explaining how they would respond to attempted immigration enforcement against students or BUSD families.
Board policy 5111.5, titled “Protection of Undocumented Students”, was originally adopted in 2016. Now, eight years after Board Policy 5111.5 (Protection of Undocumented Students) was adopted, President Trump has been re-elected and members of the BUSD community are increasingly concerned about what it could mean for those without legal documentation of citizenship in the U.S. With looming threats of mass deportation and eliminating birth-right citizenship, protection of undocumented students is integral for the safety and well-being of our community.
In a recent address to the Berkeley Public Schools community, Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel reaffirmed BUSD's plan for interaction with immigration control during President Trump’s second term. The policy lists the many ways BUSD will attempt to protect students’ legal information and documentation status from any federal officers. The address reassured community members that no students or families without citizenship will have their status exposed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and provided a few quick tips to help families prepare in the event of an emergency. These included knowing emergency phone numbers and where to find important documentation (passports, social security cards, birth certificates, etc.) The district will also deny any immigration enforcement officers the privilege onto school premises to interview a student or access school documents. This policy will hopefully help protect undocumented students and BUSD schools from deportation or questioning by ICE.
Still, with President Trump’s inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, the fear of displacement leaves the future for many undocumented students and their families uncertain. All students, regardless of their family’s immigration status, should continue to advocate for protection of those at risk for deportation. President Trump has made it clear that he plans to initiate harsh protocols against undocumented immigrants in the U.S. and while we, as students, do not have the resources to combat this issue alone, we are still able to speak up for the humanitarian rights of everyone in our Berkeley community. It may feel like we are in a hopeless position — constantly worrying about families’ loved ones begin deported — however, we can make change. Individuals hoping to become involved in supporting undocumented community members can donate to or volunteer at local organizations like the Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA). The Alameda County SSA is currently fighting for the security and wellbeing of all immigrants and refugees in the East Bay and works to provide “financial, food, and healthcare assistance, employment and training, and other culturally sensitive supportive services and referrals.”
There are many other resources available for immigrant and undocumented families in our community. Since the possibility of being questioned by ICE about citizenship status is becoming increasingly plausible for undocumented families, BUSD’s “Resources for Immigrant Families” webpage has valuable information. One resource listed is a Family Preparedness Plan, including advice for what to do if an immigrant family encounters ICE. The key points are to make a childcare plan, find out about your immigration options, and know your rights. You can find more information at https://www.berkeleyschools.net/resources-for-immigrant-families/.