Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1539593
" P E O P L E A R E B E I N G disappeared off the streets, from courthouses, work sites and school drop-off lines. When a member of our community is taken, their absence does not go unnoticed or unfelt by their families, friends, neighbors, customers, faith communities or schools," says an educator and SDEA member (name withheld for safety and security reasons). "Local community defense is necessary for building strong classroom communities and a safe and welcoming learning environment for all." The San Diego educator witnessed ICE detentions nearly every day this summer, working as part of a grassroots group that supports people attending immigration court — informing them about the risks of detention at the courthouse, making emergency plans in the event of arrest and accompanying them inside the courtroom. With masked, armed ICE agents lining the court hallways waiting to detain people, the situation often escalated quickly and the fear and desperation were palpable. "As a secondary-level educator, a case that stands out for me is when a woman and her teen daughter came to the courthouse looking for her husband, who was detained in their driveway as he left for work that morning. As the woman made phone calls to attorneys, I took their daughter to get a snack," the SDEA member says. "Sitting across from her, the 18-year-old looked as if she could be one of my students. She just had a few units to wrap up over the summer to get her diploma. But she said, 'I don't even want to do school anymore — how am I sup- posed to do school with all of this happening?'" The educator says it's important to face the reality of the current situation and recognize that far more students will be impacted than we realize, pointing out that even in school districts that limit immigra- tion agents' access to students, families are at risk of harassment by ICE during drop-off and pick-up, as happened in August throughout the SanDiego area. They recommend that school districts provide resources for families to create emergency plans in the event someone is arrested (free plan avail- able online at Immigrant Legal Resource Center). They added that other ways to help vulnerable and impacted families include informing them about the Caregiver 's Authorization Affidavit and writing a sup- port letter for those eligible for a bond hearing. For the new school year, the educator expects diminished attendance due to fear — and some students might never come back. They say it's important to offer virtual options when possible for meetings like IEPs and parent-teacher conferences to sustain home-school connections in ways that feel safe for families. The SDEA member says to remember that you don't have to take on this work alone, with like- minded colleagues in your local union and many community organizations actively doing it for years, including Unión del Barrio, Detention Watch Network and NorCal Resist. "When we fight together, we win. Work is always waiting for us, but none of us has to do it alone," they say. " Talk to your colleagues and other community members about a plan to collectively fight, resist and thrive." "Local community defense is necessary for building strong classroom communities and a safe and welcoming learning environment for all." Detention Watch Network poster. Taking Direct Action Against Injustice 17 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5