Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and Community Members,
I am writing to you today because I understand that many of you are feeling deeply concerned and anxious about recent reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the greater Los Angeles area. We have heard the rumors circulating about ICE patrols in and around our schools and the Santa Monica community.
Please know that we are actively monitoring the situation and are in direct communication with City of Santa Monica officials and the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD). As of 2:30 p.m. today, these sightings have not been confirmed, and we can assure you that ICE officials are not currently present in or at our schools.
We recognize that the unrest unfolding across Los Angeles, sparked by reports of ICE raids in public spaces, is unsettling. For many of our families, these fears are very real and can make daily activities like leaving home, using public transportation, or even bringing your children to school feel daunting. We want to emphasize that the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, (SMMUSD), along with the City of Santa Monica and the SMPD, remains committed to supporting and serving every single one of our families, regardless of immigration status.
Our Commitment to Your Safety and Rights
I want to reassure you about the protocols we have in place. Our schools are safe spaces that cannot be accessed by ICE without a proper warrant. We have reiterated our policies and protocols to all administrators and office staff to ensure everyone understands these critical guidelines.
To further support you, we have a dedicated webpage: Immigration Support & Resources with valuable information on your rights. This resource contains vital information about your rights and can help address many of your questions.
Our Core Values Endure
The SMMUSD is built upon values that are central to our community: mutual respect, dignity, trust, belonging and fairness. These values apply to everyone, regardless of immigration status, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or political affiliation. We are unwavering in our commitment to upholding these principles.
We will continue to provide access and opportunity to an excellent education and robust social-emotional support for ALL students. The SMMUSD remains a welcoming school district for every child in the neighborhoods we serve. While we support peaceful demonstrations and the right to advocate for what you believe in, we do not condone violence toward anyone or any property.
We understand this is a challenging time, and we are here for you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your school’s administration or counselor if you have questions or need support.
Sincerely,
Dr. Antonio Shelton, Superintendent
