Oxnard School District Reassures Families Amid Surge in Raids

(OXNARD) The Oxnard School District has stepped up efforts to calm families after a summer of immigration raids across Ventura County, reaffirming that every campus is a safe place and that staff will not help federal agents conduct enforcement at schools. In an action highlighted in August 2025, the district said it passed a formal resolution earlier this year to protect students and families regardless of immigration status and has since expanded multilingual outreach, community meetings, and legal referrals to ease fear and keep children in class.

District leaders say their stance is grounded in California law. California Senate Bill 54—the California Values Act—remains in force, limiting cooperation between local agencies and federal immigration authorities except in narrow circumstances. State guidance explains what school and city officials can and cannot share with federal agents, and the district says it trains staff accordingly. The bill text is available on the state’s official site at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB54.

Recent enforcement has had clear ripple effects on classrooms. In June and July 2025, immigration raids in Ventura County led to the detention of more than 300 immigrants, including at least 14 children, according to reports the district reviewed. Families said they saw agents near schools, fields, and packinghouses in Oxnard. The presence has made many parents pull back from normal routines like drop-off, pick-up, and school events, with principals noting lower attendance and some students skipping graduations.

Oxnard Mayor Luis McArthur condemned the operations, calling ICE tactics “unjust, unwarranted, very harmful, and creating a lot of chaos.” He stressed that the Oxnard Police Department does not cooperate with immigration raids and pointed to the trauma such actions inflict on children. Area members of Congress, Rep. Julia Brownley and Rep. Salud Carbajal, also criticized enforcement near schools and agricultural areas, saying it “rais[es] serious questions about the agency’s tactics and its respect for due process.”

Not everyone agrees. Deborah Baber, treasurer of the Ventura County Republican Party, defended the raids as tools for public safety and job protection, while acknowledging that some innocent people could be affected. The Ventura County Farm Bureau warned that attempts to enter private property without a judicial warrant—meaning a warrant signed by a judge—put farmworkers at risk and strain local agriculture.

District actions and legal context

According to district officials, Oxnard campuses are protected spaces where learning and student support come first. The district says staff will refuse entry to immigration agents who do not present a judicial warrant and will contact legal counsel immediately. Families would be notified through the district’s established channels if a situation ever arose at or near a school.

In practice, this mirrors SB 54’s guardrails on how schools and local police interact with federal agencies, limiting information sharing and access on campus. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these limits shape how districts set safety protocols so children feel secure at school during periods of stepped-up enforcement.

The broader legal fight is growing. Oxnard has joined a federal lawsuit led by the ACLU and partner groups that challenges the recent escalation of immigration raids and seeks relief for residents. State lawmakers are also weighing new bills to further shield schools and hospitals from enforcement actions, following highly visible operations near education and health sites this year.

While courts will decide the limits on federal activity, the district says its duty is clear: keep students learning and honor its resolution that schools are a safe place for every child.

District plans and services

The district’s plan includes concrete steps beyond policy statements:

• Expanded multilingual messaging across text, email, and social media.
• Regular community meetings to share updates and answer questions.
• Partnerships with local nonprofits to offer legal clinics, counseling, and emergency planning.

For families at risk of detention or deportation, the district says it can:

• Connect families to attorneys.
• Create child care and release plans to keep students safe if a parent is taken into custody.
• Provide access to the Oxnard School District Family Support Center and multilingual hotlines.

Important: The district will not allow agents on campus without a judicial warrant. If agents appear, staff will contact the district’s legal team and notify families through official channels.

Community impact

The effects reach beyond classrooms:

• Businesses serving immigrant communities report fewer customers as families avoid public spaces.
• Local stores and farm stands face revenue drops.
• Schools report missed days, distracted students, and counselors hearing children ask if it’s safe to come to school or ride the bus.
• Teachers are spending more time helping students process worry and grief after detentions.

Immigrant rights groups argue enforcement near schools and community centers violates basic rights and causes lasting harm to children. Local law enforcement and school leaders counter that they’re bound by state law and district policy not to cooperate with immigration enforcement on campus. Federal officials defend the raids as necessary for public safety and national security, even as lawsuits allege racial profiling and due process violations.

Guidance for families — clear steps

The district has circulated clear guidance to help families plan and stay informed:

1. If immigration agents appear at school:
   • Staff will not allow entry without a judicial warrant.
   • The district’s legal team will be contacted immediately.
   • Families will receive updates through official channels.
2. To get help:
   • Reach the Oxnard School District Family Support Center for multilingual hotlines, legal clinics, and counseling.
   • Connect with local nonprofits and community partners for legal aid and services.
3. The district’s recommendation:
   • Keep children enrolled and attending class. Skipping school can harm a child’s progress and well-being.
   • Maintain emergency contacts and release plans on file with the school.

Legal and political outlook

California’s sanctuary framework dates back to 2017–2023, when lawmakers approved SB 54 and related measures. Community groups say enforcement increased in 2024–2025, including in agricultural zones and urban centers, prompting student walkouts, rallies, and more legal action.

The coming months could bring:

• Court rulings clarifying limits on enforcement near schools and other public places.
• New state protections under consideration, including clearer rules for hospitals and school grounds.

Day-to-day realities and final message

For now, Oxnard families face difficult daily choices. Some parents have changed commute routes, avoided parks, or stopped attending school events. The district is focused on practical help—from rights education to emergency contacts—so school remains stable even when home life is uncertain.

Staff are trained to respond calmly if agents appear and to protect records that are not required to be shared. Officials repeat one central message:

School is a safe place. Students will be taught, fed, and cared for, and families will be treated with dignity.

The district’s website carries updates and meeting dates, and community partners—including the 805 Immigrant Coalition and local ACLU chapters—offer legal aid. City leaders, farm groups, and members of Congress continue pressing federal agencies over tactics near schools and workplaces, even as supporters of the raids argue enforcement must proceed.

In Oxnard, these debates play out at the classroom door each morning, where parents decide whether to bring their children to learn. The district’s pledge—backed by state law and staff training—is meant to make that choice easier. Families should expect to see stronger outreach, more legal resources, and steady contact from schools until the legal and political dust settles.