Nabil Kherfan, a Central Unified trustee, speaks at the podium during a news conference Thursday. Photo by Dylan Gonzales

With immigration fears spreading across the Central Valley, six local education leaders spoke out about protecting undocumented students at the Teague Community Resource Center in Fresno on Thursday. 

The speakers said the Central Unified School District will continue its non-discriminatory policies and maintain a safe environment for students. 

“Our job is to educate students and ensure that while they’re on campus, they are safe,” said Nabil Kherfan, a Central Unified trustee. “We have seen an increase in anxiety and fear in our undocumented community members in the immigration sweeps that happened last week from throughout the Central Valley.”

Over the past week, reports of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents operating in Kern and Fresno counties have left people fearful about going to work. A recent report by ABC30 said more than 190 people were detained as of Jan. 15, with 78 arrested.

Itzi Robles, a trustee with the Fresno County Board of Education, shared her personal experience as an undocumented student when her father was deported, the result of a traffic stop while she was in first grade.

“I just thought about how, at that age, I mentioned to my mom that I remember exactly when it happened,” Robles said. “I remember where I was. I remember my mom crying, and my family was upset that my dad was deported, but I really couldn’t remember if the next day I went to school.”

Priscilla Ramos, project manager of advocacy and community organizing at the Education and Leadership Foundation, emphasized the organization’s efforts to advocate at all levels to ensure parents and students feel safe on school grounds.

“We want to assure the community that, as CBOs (community benefit organizations), we are doing everything we can to advocate at a local, state and nationwide level for our immigration community so parents and students feel safe when they are on school grounds,” Ramos said. 

Margarita Rocha, the executive director at Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, said they have had an increase in immigration-related calls due to widespread fears throughout the community. 

“We get 50 to 70 calls a day solely regarding immigration, above and beyond what our normal workday would be,” Rocha said. 

April Henry, CEO of Highway City Community Development, echoed the sentiments of those who spoke while also emphasizing the importance of families finding a trusted person or place they can go to if any immigration-related issues arise.

“There are safe spaces for your students behind us (Central Unified),  our community partners and there are other places, like the Dream Center at Fresno State. There are places you can trust,” Henry said.

Mario Gonzalez, the deputy director at Centro La Familia, shared information on what to do if they encounter immigration officers. 

Gonzalez advised against answering any questions, invoking the 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination. He warned that even simple questions about citizenship or place of birth could be used against an individual.

He said that he and his company will be providing cards with “know your rights” information. 

Community-led news organization uSpark Valley passed out 10,000  “red cards” in English, Spanish, and Punjabi Wednesday at Sun Stereo Warehouse in Downtown Fresno. The card outlines what a person should say if contacted by law enforcement.