On the morning of August 6, while parents were dropping off their children at a school in Chula Vista, San Diego County, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested a parent outside the campus.
According to reports from San Diego’s ABC10 TV station and online videos, around 8 a.m. that day, ICE agents wearing bulletproof vests apprehended the driver from a white Tesla car parked on a street outside Enrique S. Camarena Elementary School in Chula Vista. The woman was handcuffed and taken to an ICE SUV.
Officials from the Chula Vista School District confirmed that the two children in the car were students at Enrique S. Camarena Elementary School within the district.
Superintendent of the Chula Vista School District, Eduardo Reyes, later confirmed in an email to parents and staff that ICE had arrested an adult that morning. Reyes reassured them that the incident occurred outside the campus during the school drop-off time and not within the school premises.
Reyes wrote, “We understand that this may cause concerns, but we want to assure you that our campus remains a safe place for all students.” He mentioned that the school has strict rules and procedures in place to prevent unauthorized individuals, including law enforcement, from entering the campus, and law enforcement officers are prohibited from interacting with students unless under emergency circumstances or a court order. Reyes added, “While the campus is secure, our families may still face challenges outside the school, and we are here to help.”
Responding to an email from San Diego’s public radio KPBS, the Department of Homeland Security stated that the arrested individual was a South Korean woman whose visa expired in 2017. In July 2022, she was ordered for deportation by an immigration judge in San Diego after missing a court hearing.
The Department of Homeland Security emphasized that the arrest operation took place outside the school premises, was conducted swiftly and safely, without any altercation.
Upon discovering her children in the car, officials allowed the woman to call her ex-husband. The children’s father arrived on the scene and took them away.
Superintendent Reyes of the Chula Vista School District reiterated in a communication to parents and staff, “The Chula Vista School District is committed to serving every student, regardless of their citizenship status or immigration standing.” He mentioned that the school had been in contact with the children’s family after the incident, ensuring they were taken care of.