Scott Peters
10/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/19/2026 10:32
Peters Leads San Diego Delegation in Demanding Explanation for ICE Surge at Schools and Other Sensitive Locations
San Diego, CA. - Today, U.S. Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) led members of the San Diego Congressional delegation, Reps Juan Vargas (CA-52), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Mike Levin (CA-49), and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) in a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Markwayne Mullin on recent reports of increased immigration enforcement activity in San Diego and elsewhere in California. This comes a month after San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) and San Diego City College both informed the Congressman's office of multiple U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests outside their schools.
The Members cited more frequent reports and videos online of a growing presence of agents detaining individuals throughout San Diego. They stated that these practices are actually more harmful, as the "presence of ICE officers destabilizes the sense of safety schools offer and places an additional burden on school staff and local communities."
The Members added that the "fear among students and families that these incidents cause can also negatively impact a student's educational engagement, mental and physical health, academic performance, and developmental trajectories. Parents should be able to bring their children to class and return to pick them up without fearing that a routine school day could end in family separation. Teachers should be able to focus on teaching and students on learning."
They also outlined how federal agents have been noted at other sensitive locations, such as hospitals, places of worship, and courthouses, which threatens the very safety these places are supposed to offer.
"When people are afraid to seek medical care, attend religious services, or appear in court, the consequences reach well beyond any individual arrest. These are places where people turn for help, and enforcement practices that discourage access leave entire communities less safe," the Members added.
To address their concerns, the members demanded a response to the following questions;
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Has DHS authorized an "Operation Safe California" or similar immigration enforcement operation for California? If so, what is the scope of the operation? Who authorized it? And when was it authorized?
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Has DHS authorized enhanced immigration enforcement in San Diego, and, if so, how long is it expected to last? How many agents are involved?
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Who are the intended targets, and what criteria govern whom officers or agents stop or detain?
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Have officers or agents been directed or authorized to conduct enforcement at or near schools or other sensitive locations?
"San Diegans deserve a clear explanation of the federal activity being reported in our communities," the Members concluded.
See the full letter here.
Background: As unregulated ICE activity has heavily increased throughout the second Trump Administration, Rep. Peters has called out DHS for allowing federal agents to terrorize communities without notice or consequences, leaving communities less safe.
Shortly after the arrests at San Diego schools, Rep. Peters hosted a virtual training event with Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52) to ensure community members understand how to safely interact with federal law enforcement officers, what to do if they or their loved ones are detained by agents, and what resources are available to San Diego's immigrant community.
And last year, Rep. Peters led the Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act, which would establish stronger standards for immigration agents' use of force. The bill would also restrict the use of crowd munitions like tear gas and create greater transparency in enforcement by requiring the use of body cameras and strictly limiting the use of masks. Rep. Peters has pushed Republicans to pass these commonsense reforms, but they have continued to block this bill from a vote.
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