In the current political climate, local schools on federal land drive immigration concerns for families.

Celia Jiménez here, thinking about borders. The nearest one at Baja is about an eight-hour drive south, and you can clearly see a fence and Border Patrol officers. There are also clear signs stating you’re entering federal land, like the ones you see at National Parks, military bases and federal buildings. 

While working on this week's story about immigration enforcement on federal land, I learned that almost half of California’s land, 46 percent, is managed by federal agencies. On a map of the state provided by the County of Monterey on Monday, Feb. 2, the blue areas denote federal jurisdiction, which covers a good portion of Monterey County. This includes Fort Hunter Liggett, Pinnacles National Park, La Mesa Village in Monterey and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center in Salinas. 

The county also shared an 11-page document listing all roads and locations under federal jurisdiction. 

This public information was compiled in response to community members' requests. The Monterey County Solidarity Network, a volunteer group which tracks immigration enforcement, has reported that at least eight Monterey County residents have been detained or turned over to ICE in South Monterey County since December, including one on Jolon Road on Jan. 16 and at least 15 more near Lake San Antonio on Dec. 30 and 31 (eight were San Luis Obispo residents). The Sheriff's Office has confirmed one detention on federal land. 

Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh says with the current immigration climate, it’s important to share this type of information with the community so they can be aware of their surroundings. “That's wise and proactive. So, I'm supportive of that,” Diffenbaugh says.

La Mesa School in Monterey is surrounded by federal land that parents and students have to cross to get to school, and two others within MPUSD are near federal property: the former campus of the Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula and Marshall Elementary in Seaside. 

MPUSD’s schools are designated Purple Star Program Schools, and they serve students that come from military families (about 14 percent of MPUSD’s student population are military-connected). 

After parents raised concerns about immigration enforcement a few years ago, MPUSD moved the Dual Language Academy to Sonoma Avenue.

Diffenbaugh says the district offers transfers to other schools when parents don’t want to send their children to the ones on or near federal property. 

“If you were uncomfortable attending there because of that reason, then we would facilitate a transfer to a different school site where there was room in that grade level,” he says. “It really has to be the family that brings the issue to our attention for us to act on.” 

It is important to note that schools don’t ask families about their immigration status. While the information the county provided was intended to aid our undocumented population, it is of interest to everyone, especially because federal laws supersede state laws when we are at national recreational areas or buildings.