Peters Statement on Reported ICE Activity Near San Diego Schools

September 10, 2026 San Diego, CA — Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) released the following statement after San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) and San Diego City College both informed the Congressman's office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest activity outside their schools within the past week: "I am deeply troubled by reports that students and parents were detained without warning while trying to attend classes or bring kids to school. Schools are supposed to be a safe place for young people to learn. Yet this Administration exploits the places we trust most—schools, childcare facilities, hospitals, courthouses, and places of worship. President Trump has turned these places into hunting grounds. “ICE isn’t going after the 'worst of the worst,' as President Trump promised. We saw this at Buona Forchetta, when ICE agents threw the owner against a wall, handcuffed employees, and used flash-bang grenades on bystanders. These people weren't drug lords or violent criminals; they were workers trying to make a living. “Parents and children should not have to worry about ICE agents waiting outside a classroom or a doctor's office. That's why I led introduction of the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would bar immigration enforcement within 1,000 feet of schools, hospitals, and churches except in true emergencies. I will also continue working with SDUSD and City College to make sure San Diegans have the resources they need to stay informed and protected. "Until ICE operates responsibly and reasonably to target dangerous criminals instead of hardworking families, I will push for real reforms from ICE and hold them accountable for the fear they have inflicted on my constituents and communities across the country. I urge all state and local elected officials to express their support for the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act and my Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act so we can deliver commonsense reforms that keep our communities safe." Background: Last year, Rep. Peters led the Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act , a bill to make our communities safer by establishing a stronger standard for Federal immigration agents' use of force. The bill would also restrict 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 Congress to pass these common sense reforms, but they have been blocked by the Republican majority. ###