Students and alumni urge Inglewood Unified to act after nearby ICE activity; board is asked to reaffirm sanctuary protections

Several alumni and community leaders told the Inglewood Unified School District board on Aug. 20 that recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity near Century Plaza and a Home Depot has created community fear that may affect student attendance and safety.

Edgar Diaz, an alumnus who said he is now a first‑generation college student, urged the board to act and make schools “sanctuaries of learning,” arguing that parents are afraid to send children to school and workers to leave home. “ICE raids are not just a federal issue. They are happening in our city,” Diaz said, and he asked the board to convene community leaders and provide resources and reassurance.

Other speakers, including Alita Gonzalez and Paola Gonzalez, a policy manager and a current graduate student, urged immediate steps: meet with community organizations, communicate the district’s commitments to families, and support legal and legislative strategies that reinforce protections already required under state law (for example, AB49 and SB48 were cited by a speaker as relevant legislative context).

Board members acknowledged the urgency. Several trustees said staff and the superintendent’s office had already briefed parents and staff on safety protocols and legal protections and that the district will continue outreach and resource coordination. The board emphasized that California law places certain limits on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement in schools and encouraged district leadership to continue working with community groups and legal partners to bolster trust and information for families.

No formal resolution was adopted at the meeting; community members asked the board to schedule follow‑up meetings with immigrant‑rights leaders and to communicate clearly to families about attendance expectations and supports.