Bay Area schools reassure families as federal immigration arrests are reported; Newsom issues know-your-rights guidance

Reports of federal immigration enforcement around the Bay Area this week drew responses from school districts and from Gov. Gavin Newsom's office, while the Department of Homeland Security would not talk about its operations.

What was reported

In Richmond, immigration agents arrested a parent near a West Contra Costa Unified school on Thursday morning, ABC7 reported. The district said the man did not have a child enrolled there. Assistant Superintendent of Communications Liz Sanders said immigration officers may not come into a school "without a valid court order," and the district said attendance on Friday was lower than on past three-day weekends.

In Half Moon Bay, Cabrillo Unified wrote to parents Friday morning to confirm that ICE agents had been seen in the community and to assure families their children were protected.

ABC7 cited Washington Examiner sources who described a statewide operation targeting both people with criminal records and immigrants without them. Neither report described enforcement in Santa Clara County.

The two sides

DHS said in a statement to ABC7: "Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country including in California."

Newsom criticized the operation. In a release Friday, his office cited "increased reports of federal immigration agents in some communities across California" and said state and local police do not act as federal immigration agents. "No President is above the Constitution.

No one in this country is without rights," Newsom said. On X, he accused President Trump of using deportations to frighten communities away from voting.

Bill Hing, who runs the University of San Francisco's immigration and deportation defense clinic, told ABC7 he believes the enforcement is targeted because the administration sees California as a sanctuary state.

The state's guidance

The governor's office urged residents to make a family plan with emergency contacts, child care arrangements and key documents kept somewhere safe. Its advice for anyone stopped or detained: do not run, ask for a lawyer, do not sign papers they have not reviewed with an attorney, and do not lie or show false documents.

People may say they choose to remain silent and that they do not consent to a search, but should not physically resist.

At home, the release says, people generally do not have to open the door and should ask to see a warrant. It distinguishes a judicial warrant signed by a judge from an immigration administrative warrant.

The state's resources are collected at ca.gov/immigration, and the Attorney General's office takes reports of suspected misconduct by federal agents at oag.ca.gov/reportmisconduct. The release says to call 911 if a crime is happening or someone is in immediate danger.

Sources

abc7news.com

gov.ca.gov