e The Epitaph
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Volume 62, Issue 5
Homestead High School 21370 Homestead Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014
Community responds to Trump’s immigration policies
March 6, 2025
Remembering Caden Hartdegen March 2007 — Jan. 2025
Photo by Aviv Matas
Solorio (right) said she organized a walkout on Feb. 18 in conjunction with FHS to protest Trump’s immigration policies.
Maya Dutt and Aviv Matas
P
resident Donald Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 20 that allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants in schools, according to CalMatters. In response to the order, FUHSD administration created new policies to protect students from ICE actions, principal Denae Nurnberg said. The order has heightened fears of deportation within the the immigrant community, senior Angelina Solorio Barragan said. Until recently, Solorio was one of the million students in California who have at least one undocumented parent, according to the California Department of Education. “My dad immigrated from Mexico. He got his papers before all this happened, but it was a scary moment for me,” Solorio said. “My childhood friend’s family [is undocumented], and they’ve taken care of me since I was two years old. I worry about them a lot because ICE was across the street from where they lived.” School and district administration have taken steps to protect students from potential ICE raids, superintendent Graham Clark said. Specifically, teachers and staff were instructed to refuse ICE or law enforcement requests to enter campus, Clark said. If approached, staff should notify the school principal or administration team, who would then notify Clark or a cabinet member before any further action is taken, Clark said. Furthermore, FERPA and Administrative Regulation 5145.13 bans staff from giving information that can identify a specific student to law enforcement without parental permission unless they have a court order or subpoena, Clark said. It is also against FUHSD board policy for officers to enter schools without permission unless there is an exigent circumstance, which is highly unlikely, Nurnberg said. “I want and believe that schools should be a safe place to learn, and students should feel comfortable coming to school without fear of having their immigration
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status affect their safety and status,” Nurnberg said. “It is imperative we reassure To help undocumented families students and families that our navigate interactions with law enschools are safe and welcoming forcement, the Santa Clara County Office of Education has created a places where we are focused on comprehensive website at sccoe.org, providing education and supwhich includes resources for preparaport to every student, regardless tion and response to ICE actions. The of their immigration status.” Governor’s Office has also made a website at ca.gov that contains resources — Superintendent Graham Clark on rights, legal resources and hotlines, Clark said in an email. Despite such resources, people are often unaware of their legal rights, which is a major problem, Solorio said. To raise awareness of and protest the Trump administration’s immigration policies, Solorio said she organized a walkout on Feb. 18. The parade marched from the McDonalds on Homestead and Stelling Roads to Sunnyvale City Hall, and was inspired by similar protests in San Jose schools that occurred in January, Solorio said. “I’m from San Jose, and seeing my community [protest] made me want to do something because I know if I was in San Photo by Aviv Matas Jose, I would want the same thing,” Solorio said. “[The protest] was a message to say, Amid ongoing concerns, Clark said he ‘We’re all a community, and you guys aren’t does not believe ICE poses an imminent going to stop us.’” threat to students. To further educate people about their “Schools have never been a place that rights, Solorio said she is working with ICE comes to, and I don’t think that’s going school and district administration to orga- to change,” Clark said. “I don’t think they nize a district-wide immigrant rights panel, have the capacity to do low-level enforcewhich will be held in March. These rights, ment because there’s not many of them. As which include the right to refuse entry to school employees, we’re also committed law enforcement without a search warrant, to supporting students, so we’re not going the right to refuse to speak with an officer to help [ICE] in any way. The only way we and the right to a lawyer, apply to everyone, would do that is if we were forced to in an regardless of documentation status, Solorio unlikely circumstance.” said. Nevertheless, Clark said FUHSD will enSolorio said it is essential for adminis- sure students feel safe on campus. tration to continue honoring their commit“It is imperative we reassure our stument to student safety. dents and families that our schools are safe “Protect students, let them know they and welcoming places, where we are fohave rights and that [the administration] is cused on providing education and support going to help,” Solorio said. “School should to every student, regardless of their imnot be an unsafe place for any student, and migration status,” Clark said in the email. especially now that people are on edge, “Our priority remains ensuring the safety [administrators] should make sure no one and well-being of every child that walks will come and take their family away.” through our doors.”
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‘$ome $exy $ongs 4 U’ puts me to sleep Newest Drake album is worst in his musical journey
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Photos courtesy of Tiffany Hartdegen
To read Caden’s in memoriam, see page 2
ASB hosts first intradistrict social Class cabinets discuss social plans, goals Annie Guo and Vivian Kim The first intra-district social for FUHSD’s Class of 2027 will take place March 7 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Sharks Ice San Jose, leadership teacher Hector Almendarez said. The social will act as a unique opportunity for schools across the district to socialize with one another, Almendarez added. “This [event] is an attempt to add another event in which all the schools in the district can come together and participate in a fun social event,” Almendarez said. “It was a bit of a struggle to get approved because it does require adult supervision being there for the entire duration.”
See Intra-district social, page 3 Track athletes race down path of improvement Students reflect on track journey, team experience
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