SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A parent of a Linda Vista Elementary School student was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday afternoon, the San Diego Unified School District confirmed.
WATCH: Superintendent Fabi Bagula held a press conference to address the detainment
According to the district, the incident happened after 3 p.m. near the school while the parent was waiting to pick up their child. SDUSD says several families witnessed the detainment, but students did not see it.
"We have been working with our school agencies, including the San Diego Unified Police Department, Office of the Superintendent, and Youth Services, to ensure that the impacted family has the resources they need during this difficult time," a letter sent to parents from the school's principal, Miriam Atlas, stated.
The letter reiterated that SDUSD's school grounds are safe spaces that ICE will not be granted entry to without an official, signed warrant. Those policies and protocols related to ICE have been reemphasized to all staff "to ensure everyone understands these critical guidelines," the letter says.
"In California, schools cannot ask about immigration status during enrollment or share student records without parental consent or a court order," Atlas wrote.
The incident happened off campus, district officials said.
"We understand how unsettling this is, and we stand with our community in our desire for ALL our students to be in a safe learning environment," the principal's letter says. "Our teachers and staff will be ready in the morning to support our students and ensure a day of calm and learning. We will have extra district resources on campus should any students or families need additional support."
The district's superintendent, Fabiola Bagula, is scheduled to address the incident after visiting school staff Friday morning.
ABC 10News reached out to ICE for comment on this story Friday morning. We are awaiting a response.
