At Oakland Tech, the motto for ICE presence on campus is simple: don’t talk, don’t share, and let an adult know. But students remain unclear on what might happen if immigration agents show up.
OUSD’s official stance discourages ICE from coming onto school grounds, and Tech staff are not allowed to share student information. Principal Price made clear: “If ICE ever came looking for student information, our response would be simple: ‘We don’t know what you’re talking about. You’ll have to go through legal.’”
So far, staff training has been limited to Zoom meetings and internal discussions, with no physical drills or student-facing training. If ICE arrives, staff are expected to notify administrators, who will report the incident to the district and county officials.
Communication with students has also been inconsistent. The school sent out an email weeks ago, but beyond that, most information has been filtered through social studies teachers—that is, if they decided to share it.
One major concern for students is what to do if they see ICE near campus. The school’s advice: don’t run, don’t talk, and let an adult know. But beyond that, a clear plan has not been communicated to students. The district discussed lockdown procedures but ultimately decided against them, saying it would cause unnecessary panic. Tech has instead agreed on a code phrase to quietly alert staff if needed.
Although there is a lot of fear right now, “One of the safest places for students, undocumented or not, is school,” emphasized Mr. Price. “If you’re here, we will pull out all the stops to keep you safe.”
So the question remains: what should you do if ICE shows up? Although it may seem like an intense situation, it is crucial to understand your rights as both citizens and non-citizens. ICE agents cannot enter your home without a valid search warrant. Unless a judge has signed it, you have the full right to keep your door closed to them. If you open your door to agents, they will take that as consent to enter, even without a warrant. Keep the door closed and ask to see a warrant to ensure that ICE has the right to be there. You are entitled to ask an officer to slide the warrant under the door or hold it up to a window, allowing you to check for signs of a valid warrant. Almost 90% of the time, ICE does not have one.
In a public setting, ICE agents can ask about your legal status or request to see legal documents. However, it is within your Fourth Amendment rights to remain silent. Do not show any documents that are not proof of citizenship. Foreign documents can leave suspicion and create a reason for an officer to take action. Additionally, running away from ICE can be a valid reason for arrest.
Resources and support are provided throughout the Oakland Tech campus. Red cards are located in the student center, front main office, and classrooms 101 & 102. Even if you are not directly affected by being undocumented, it is crucial to understand your rights and be able to assist others who are. Make sure that the information you spread is valid, sharing accurate news can help prevent panic and distortion of the truth.