SD Unified officials speak out after father detained by ICE near school

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A father waiting to pick up his child from school in the Linda Vista neighborhood was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement this week, sparking outrage and inciting fear within the local community.

Officials from the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) publicly addressed the incident Friday morning, confirming that the situation unfolded around 3:10 p.m. the day before near Linda Vista Elementary School.

Though not technically on campus, SDUSD Superintendent Fabiola Bagula said the parent was detained about five minutes before the dismissal bell at a nearby location, with multiple families witnessing the encounter.

"I am told that the father who was detained was concerned about his child's welfare and who was going to get them from school," Bagula explained.

The Department of Homeland Security contacted the school's principal, Dr. Miriam Atlas, after the parent was detained, according to the superintendent.

"She [Dr. Atlas] had the difficult responsibility of contacting the child's mother to inform her of what happened," said Bagula. "The mother was able to pick up the child from school."

School officials emphasized that students at Linda Vista Elementary School are very young, just 3 to 11 years old. To that point Bagula added, "You can have your immigration reform without traumatizing children."

The principal also explained that immigration status is not something that is discussed during school enrollment as California law mandates that all school-aged children residing in the state be enrolled in school, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status. Additionally, schools cannot inquire about documents related to a student's or their family's immigration status.

Bagula relayed the following message to the community:

"To our families and to every child, documented or not, every child had the legal right to attend public school in the United States. We will protect that right and we will do so together. As Americans and as neighbors and as democracy, we must demand more from our leaders. We must call for laws and policies that reflect both justice and humanity."

The status of the Linda Vista Elementary School father who was detained and taken away by ICE is unknown.

This isn't the first time a San Diego-area parent has been approached by ICE near a school. Earlier this month, another parent was detained after a morning drop-off outside of an elementary school in Chula Vista.

As immigration enforcement ramps up across Southern California and the nation, many parents and students are left wondering: are they next?