A new wave of posters has appeared in many classrooms around M-A’s campus, sending a clear message: “This is a safe space for immigrants.”
The posters were originally introduced by the California Teachers Association and given to other local unions in San Mateo County, including the Sequoia District Teachers Association.
Recent reports of interaction between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local residents have created pressing concerns and fear among students and families about their safety on campus and at home.
Although California is a sanctuary state, the lingering effects of past federal immigration policies have fueled ongoing fears of deportation, family separation, and discrimination in the Bay Area.
“With the recent presidency, I know many students are worried about what could happen, especially seeing ICE in our community,” senior Leslie Mandujano, the president of Latinos Unidos de Menlo Atherton, said. “It’s a scary thing. Just having these posters in classrooms makes a difference—it shows that students have a community at school and shouldn’t feel alone.”
Rumors about ICE activity, whether true or not, have fueled anxiety among students. Reports of ICE agents sitting in cars near restaurants, homes, or individuals loitering near school entrances have fueled immense fear.
As local community members began discussions about feeling unsafe with District leaders, it became a priority for the SDTA to make immigrant students feel that they are welcome at school.
While schools across the country have taken steps such as posting legal notices about student privacy on the front doors of their campus, these efforts often haven’t resonated with some students.
“Even if nothing is happening locally, it’s in the news, it’s in the zeitgeist,” Edith Salvatore, president of the SDTA, said. “We want students to know that their teachers, counselors, and librarians understand that this is a distraction to them—there’s more going on in their lives than just normal teenage stress.”
“We wanted students to feel supported. There’s no visible difference before or after a decision on intensified immigration enforcement. But students are still facing fears, rumors, and concerns about their safety, so we wanted something that would directly reassure them,” Salvatore said.
These concerns have also prompted students and staff to run “know your rights” workshops for immigrant students as some have expressed fear about deportation, discrimination, and feeling unwelcome in their communities. While LUMA and Latin American students have driven much of the conversation, some believe that M-A’s admission should take a larger role.
“Beyond posters, we need school-wide conversations and resources to ensure students know their rights,” Samantha Castillo, the staff advisor of LUMA, said.
The District also plans to distribute Spanish versions of these posters to make them more accessible to a larger portion of the student body.
