In late January of this year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made their appearance at the Springhill Suites hotel in Eastlake, sparking alarming concern in regards to the safety of the students in San Diego county now that they are in the area. Based on the previous actions of ICE, concern is expected, especially because the Supreme Court has recently ruled that racial profiling as a basis for reasonable suspicion has always been constitutional. 

San Diego is a border community, creating the large Latino population in the city, thus making it a prime target for ICE raids regarding the to and fro of the U.S.-Mexico border. This proposes a threat to students who live near the recent ICE settlement.

“I am really uncomfortable with [ICE] being anywhere, but them being near my house is especially agitating,” said Andrew Maywood, BVH junior who lives in Eastlake, approximately ten minutes from Springhill Suites.

While Maywood is not particularly concerned about ICE approaching his home specifically, he does believe that “they are going to go to different areas [around] San Diego, particularly the predominantly Latino communities.” This raises many alarms, considering the high Latino population at BVH. The prime communities affected by ICE detainments are located within this very school.

Many students have expressed their opposition against ICE as demonstrated by the recent BVH walkout specifically held to protest the bureaucratic institution. Considering this, along with the predominant Latino community present at the school, it is important for students to know how to properly handle potential interactions with ICE.