Malini, Paul, & Meredith Say ICE is not Welcome Here

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Statement from SOMSD Board of Education Candidates: Malini, Paul, and Meredith

Over the past two days, three men have been abducted in our community, on September 8 and again on September 9, by masked ICE and Border Patrol agents. We condemn this in the strongest possible terms and are deeply troubled by actions that create fear and uncertainty throughout our community, harming not only those directly targeted but also their families and neighbors.

We appreciate the statements issued by Mayor Adams and Mayor Collum, as well as the response from organizations like SOMA Action, which are coordinating opportunities for community members to stand together in support of our neighbors. These efforts are critical to protecting our community in the face of escalating attacks on immigrant families in our country, attacks supported by our federal government. The Department of Defense, now the Department of War, is providing military personnel to assist with immigration enforcement operations conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This alarming coordination underscores the seriousness of the threat facing immigrant communities.

As Board of Education candidates, we stand in solidarity with families experiencing fear, anxiety, and sadness right now. For Malini, as an immigrant herself, this is deeply personal. She knows firsthand the strength, resilience, and vulnerability that come with building a life in a new country. Our communities, and our schools, must remain safe places where every child feels secure, supported, and able to learn without the weight of worry that their loved ones may be taken from them.

Immigration enforcement impacts all of us: our classrooms, our neighborhoods, and the trust that binds us together as a community. The safety and wellbeing of our students depend on every family knowing they are seen, valued, and protected.

Now more than ever, we need leaders who will stand up to these dangerous federal practices and protect our communities. As Board of Education candidates, we commit to advocating for school policies that safeguard immigrant students and families, ensuring resources and supports are accessible to all, and working to make our schools safe havens where every child can learn without fear. 

We also call on our district and local municipalities to be visible and united in their response, including hosting town halls so the community can understand the steps being taken to protect our students, schools, and neighborhoods. We pledge to advance policies and practices that protect all community members, particularly those most vulnerable to federal enforcement actions, while upholding our shared values of dignity, equity, and compassion.