Dear OCEAA Community,
The OCEAA Board of Directors and staff has reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to being a safe, inclusive, and welcoming school for all students, staff, and families. We celebrate the richness of our diverse community and uphold the values of equity, inclusivity, and belonging that are at the heart of our mission.
First and foremost, providing a safe school environment for your child(ren) is our top priority. Our community has expressed concern about recent news reports regarding immigration issues around the country and have asked how that might affect our school. While we can’t affect national immigration policy, we can and do make sure your children are safe at all times while at school, and we will continue to do so. We want you to know that our school is a safe place, and we have protocols in place to ensure that no unauthorized visitors, including law enforcement, have unchecked access to our students.
Like all California public schools, we are obligated to enroll and serve students without regard to citizenship. We are dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for all students, regardless of immigration status. We do not generally permit law enforcement, immigration or otherwise, interviewing, detaining, searching, or otherwise accessing students, except in rare instances affecting the safety of our campus (e.g., an active shooter incident). Your child is much less likely to encounter immigration authorities on our campus while in our care, than at a private workplace, at home, or elsewhere in the community. For this reason, we strongly encourage your child to continue attending school in person.
Although our campus is safe, you may encounter other concerns outside of school. We urge families affected by changes in immigration policies to review the guidance and recommendations below, as well as the enclosed resources.
We encourage you to review this information as a family and reach out to us if you have any questions. Translation services are available upon request.
Make a Family Plan (or download easy to print one-pager)
Creating a Family Plan can help keep your family safe and prepared in case law enforcement visits your home and/or detains a parent or guardian. It will also guide us in supporting your child in the event of your detention.
- Update your emergency contacts in PowerSchool, this ensures that the school can verify identification of authorized adults for pick-up, drop-off, and access to school.
- If you would like to update your emergency contacts, please log into PowerSchool at [http://oceaa.powerschool.com/public] to make the necessary changes.
- Prepare a childcare plan in advance, which may include completing a Caregiver Authorization Affidavit. This simple form allows a non-parent relative to enroll your child in school, make school-related medical decisions, and handle other important matters on behalf of your child. Discuss your plan (and prepare Caregiver Authorization Affidavit) with a trusted adult (18+ years old) of your choosing to serve as a caregiver for your child(ren) in the event it is needed. This adult would present the Caregiver Authorization Affidavit signed by both parties to the school in order to exercise caregiver rights as it relates to school activities. Adults entrusted with caregiver responsibility must be 18 years of age or older to legally agree to the rights bestowed in the affidavit. This is the form for Caregiver Authorization Affidavit.
- Keep a file of all important documents in a secure location and ensure that your family members know where to find them. Important documents can include birth certificates, registry of birth (for U.S. born children registered in parent’s home country), Social Security cards, driver license or other identification cards, marriage license, Caregiver’s Affidavit, passports from your country of origin, your children’s passport, etc.
- Educate your children and family about their rights if they are approached by law enforcement. The resources provided below contain information about rights.
- Seek an advocate or other supports
If you have immigration status concerns, enclosed is a list of California – based immigrant rights organizations accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) to represent immigrants before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR).
Additional Resources
If a student’s family member is detained, the ICE Detainee Locator can assist in identifying if the family member has been detained and where they are being held. When using the ICE Detainee Locator, it is helpful to have the family member’s date of birth and their Alien Registration Number (A-Number), if available.
Access the ICE Detainee Locator here: ICE Detainee Locator.
For immigrant rights information, please see the resources here: National Immigrant Justice Center: Know Your Rights
We recognize the emotional toll that these circumstances can take on students, families, and staff. OCEAA has robust mental health support and resources available for our students. Our counselor and mental health professionals are available to offer guidance and a safe space for students to express their concerns.
The laws in this area are evolving rapidly and may change in the coming weeks or months. We will continue to communicate with you and keep you informed of any updates to our guidance.
Together, we will continue to honor the dignity and humanity of every individual, creating a nurturing space where all can grow and succeed. We are here for you. Please reach out to the school if you have any questions about the information above or the enclosed resources.
In Crew,
Señor Limón
Executive Director
Carmen Aparicio
OCEAA Board of Directors Chair
Resource: Know Your Rights Presentation