In anticipation of President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, the state of California and the San Mateo Union High School District took steps to prevent potential actions by Trump toward undocumented immigrants and transgender people.
On Feb. 3, a special session of the California Assembly, requested by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, set aside $50 million in court cases against the Trump administration and grants for nonprofits that provide legal services for immigrants.
“Sometimes legal action is the only action you can take in this country, so it’s a good step,” said junior Erin Finn. “The nonprofit [grants are] also a good idea, because it’s good to support [immigrants] from the ground up.”
However, some think that more should be done.
“Trump wants to stop funding for cities that will help immigrants, [so] maybe California should give more money to those cities,” said freshman Sara Chiguchi.
We’re charged with educating students and keeping them safe, so [arresting students is] in contrast to what we’re all about as an educational institution
In response to the Trump administration’s plans for undocumented people, Superintendent Randall Booker stated in an email to students and families on Nov. 7 that the District will continue to follow its 2016 resolution, instated after Trump was first elected. The District will not collect information about students’ immigration status, won’t release information unless there is a warrant and will endeavor to make the district a welcoming environment for undocumented students. In addition, staff members have been advised on how to respond if law enforcement enters campus, according to Booker.
“My campuses are not about citizenship or lack thereof,” Booker said. “My campuses are about educating students, and if immigration officials want to do their jobs in addressing who they think is undocumented, or apprehending them, not in my schools. We’re charged with educating students and keeping them safe, so [arresting students is] in contrast to what we’re all about as an educational institution.”
If law enforcement enters campus to apprehend a student who could be undocumented, Booker plans to take several steps to avoid students being arrested.
“Immigration [enforcement] hasn’t shown up on our campuses [and] I highly doubt that it will happen,” Booker said. “[If they did,] I’d want to see [the] warrant that would grant them access to student information. I would pass it by my legal counsel to determine if it’s a legally grounded warrant. I would pass it in front of my school board president, and then I’d have to make a decision: whether or not I’m going to abide by the warrant and give the information or not.”
With some SMUHSD students fearful of themselves or their family members being deported, the resolution allows people to feel safe, according to SMUHSD Trustee Ligia Andrade Zúñiga.
“We don’t know what happens outside of our campuses, we can’t control that, but we can control what happens inside,” Andrade Zúñiga said. “[The resolution] shows that we care, that no student, no staff member, no person within our school walls will be disrespected. We will do everything we can to protect [undocumented students] and LGBT students.”
When it comes to countrywide trends as a whole … sometimes the tide of politics impacts everyone, no matter how liberal they may seem
Trump’s executive orders include recognizing people based on either the male or female sex in federal settings, rather than gender, among other restrictions against transgender people. He has also said that he will ban gender-affirming care.
Ethnic Studies, the mandatory semester-long class that teaches students to view history through the lens of those who have been marginalized, could be targeted as an example of “woke” curriculum. However, since it is a district requirement mandated by California, the course is unlikely to face any changes in the short term.
“Most kids learn their values from their parents. Ethnic Studies is learning about different people and perspectives,” said sophomore Mari Solorzano. “It’s a place to [have] opinions rather than opinions of your family or the media, but if that were taken away, it would be rare to see somebody with their own opinions.”
Some are concerned that the district and California’s measures may be unable to prevent Trump’s actions.
“When it comes to countrywide trends as a whole … sometimes the tide of politics impacts everyone, no matter how liberal they may seem,” Finn said. “Executive decisions could impact our state, especially if overreaches of power are made [by President Trump].”
Others believe that Trump-proofing is unnecessary.
“I don’t think it matters if California is specifically designated as a refuge or a shelter for [transgender] people and for undocumented people, because it will always serve as that whether or not it’s explicitly stated,” said junior Brody Friedeberg. “Living in California, I feel safer than I would in any other state, especially [compared to conservative] states.”
Booker notes that the district will continue to watch the federal government’s actions.
“I don’t think that SMUHSD is the first line of defense when it comes to organizations disagreeing with President Trump’s directives,” Booker said. “The state legislature in California [and] California laws are going to serve as buffers far before individual school districts have to make certain decisions.”
