California Republican Opposes ICE in Schools
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A Republican candidate for governor of California is breaking with party lines by backing a state bill proposed by Democrats that would bar federal immigration authorities from operating in schools.
Senate Bill 48 prevents school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools from allowing immigration authorities access to school campuses without a valid judicial warrant or court order.
"I endorse Senate Bill 48 because children should feel no fear of going to school under any circumstances," Republican Kyle Langford told Newsweek.
Why It Matters
Since the beginning of President Donald Trump's second term, thousands of migrants have been arrested. Under the administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has gained expanded enforcement powers, including the right to conduct raids in schools and other sensitive locations.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a memo in January that overturned the policy. Critics say such raids sow fear in vulnerable communities.
What To Know
SB48 also prohibits the release of student records or personal information to immigration authorities without proper legal authorization, safeguarding the privacy and security of students and their families.
"Law enforcement has alternative methods to monitor undocumented individuals and I will empower them with accurate data to do their job," Langford said.
Langford, a native of San Jose, California, and a graduate of Lake Oswego High School, has a professional background that includes roles as a construction manager and executive director of the California First PAC.
His remarks are at odds with the state's GOP, as California Senate Republicans oppose the bill, arguing that the legislation prioritizes political agendas over the safety and security of California residents.
"This bill is a distraction. Rather than focusing on what the state can do to keep Californians safe, Democrat legislators are once again prioritizing national political fights. They should be careful not to take their battle against the federal government too far and jeopardize safety and critical funding for our state and schools," Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones told Newsweek.
It comes amid heightened concerns in the sanctuary state over federal authorities targeting children.
Immigration advocates hold a rally in Sacramento to protest President Donald Trump's plans to conduct mass deportation of immigrants without legal status.
Immigration advocates hold a rally in Sacramento to protest President Donald Trump's plans to conduct mass deportation of immigrants without legal status.
Haven Daley/AP
DHS agents were refused entry to two Los Angeles elementary schools in April after arriving unannounced and attempting to contact five undocumented students, according to school officials.
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the agents claimed their visit was to check on the student's well-being, but school staff reported the agents also tried to mislead them by falsely stating the families had authorized the contact.
What People Are Saying
Kyle Langford told Newsweek: "Let me be clear, creating undue fear and anxiety within California's schools is completely unacceptable."
John Fabbricatore, a retired ICE field office director in Colorado, told Newsweek: "They didn't get rid of it so they could go into schools and churches. They got rid of it so they could actually go into just a regular neighborhood."
Alberto Carvalho, the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, said: "No federal agency has the authority, short of a judicial warrant, that means the equivalent of a criminal subpoena to enter our schools. We will protect our kids. We will educate our kids.
SB48 states: "It would prohibit school districts, county offices of education, or charter schools and their personnel from granting permission to an immigration authority to access a school site, producing a pupil for questioning by an immigration authority at a school site, or consenting to a search of any kind at a school site by an immigration authority, unless the immigration authority presents a valid judicial warrant or court order."
What Happens Next
The California gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026.
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