Oceanside Unified School District continues family support amid immigration concerns

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KSWB/KUSI) — The Oceanside Unified School District is stepping up efforts to reassure families their children are safe on campus following an immigration raid near an elementary school in Encinitas this week.

Some families have expressed fear about sending their kids to school after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained a father just blocks away from a school on Wednesday.

To ease concerns, Oceanside schools have deployed a team of social workers to connect directly with families, offering workshops, resources and what district leaders call “safe spaces” on campuses.

“Everyone is being impacted. I consider everyone my neighbor, and I wouldn’t want anyone who is my neighbor experiencing this,” said Cynthia Hernandez, a district social worker.

So far, the district has hosted at least three “Know Your Rights” workshops, with more planned at schools across the city. The sessions are designed to provide families with tools and information to help them feel secure.

“It’s important that we have social workers who can visit families, meet them where they are and build a plan that allows them to feel more confident coming to school,” said Jordy Sparks, Oceanside Unified’s executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion in student supports.

District officials emphasized that no one, including law enforcement, is allowed beyond a school’s front office without a warrant.

Oceanside Unified serves a predominantly Hispanic community and says it will continue offering support throughout the school year.

“We want to be as preventive and proactive as we can to make sure kids feel safe in school,” Hernandez said.