Superintendent: There were no ICE visits to Berkeley schools
Berkeley Unified School District Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel called recent reports of ICE at Berkeley schools an "unsubstantiated rumor."
Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel reassured local families on Tuesday that ICE has paid no visits to Berkeley schools — despite rumors to the contrary.
"Members of our community may have heard an unsubstantiated rumor that ICE was at BUSD schools today. This is not true," she wrote. "There were no ICE visits or actions at any BUSD school or program today."
Her message continued: "We understand the heightened safety concerns many in our community are experiencing at this time and remind you that the district has shared our protocols in the event of immigration enforcement actions, including what our community can expect regarding communications. Additionally, I remind you of our Resources for Immigrant Families webpage."
Earlier in the day, a community member told The Scanner about reports of possible ICE visits to a Berkeley preschool and James Kenney Park in northwest Berkeley.
The reader said they later learned it had been a BUSD parent who was driving a marked U.S. Customs and Border Protection for work.
In her announcement, which went out shortly before 5 p.m., the superintendent asked parents to be cautious about spreading misinformation.
"During this time, we ask that the community be mindful of how quickly an unsubstantiated rumor can spread far beyond our classrooms and schools and impact many in our community," she wrote.
