A neighborhood California schooling board member defended her feedback the place she stated deportation was “higher” for the student-to-teacher ratio as “extra unlawful aliens with youngsters are deported.”
Maya Phillips, a board member of the Ramona Unified College District, has since defended the feedback she made at a March 4 assembly. She says her critics considerations seem to stem from a “second-hand, incorrect interpretation.”
“I didn’t categorical a private opinion; my remark was a factual, impartial, and legally compliant remark concerning the potential sensible results of federal immigration enforcement insurance policies,” she informed the California Submit in a press release. “I didn’t use any phrases that might recommend my choice for one facet or one other.”
She insisted her feedback have been an “unemotional remark” concerning the “sensible results” of immigration enforcement insurance policies.
“I stand by my remark. I additionally encourage anybody with questions to achieve out to me on to keep away from additional misunderstandings,” she stated.
San Diego County — dwelling to an estimated 150,000+ undocumented immigrants — has been particularly affected by nationwide immigration enforcement. In 2025, youngster detentions rose sharply: greater than 250 youngsters have been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in San Diego and Imperial counties.
Phillips stated she needed to make clear her “private dedication.”
“Public faculties exist to teach and help each youngster who walks via the doorways, no matter their background. I agree, and that’s the legislation,” she added. “I wish to reaffirm my private dedication to supporting each pupil and household, no matter their background or immigration standing, as required by legislation.”
Phillips insisted her remarks have been taken out of context, saying she was addressing considerations from households about immigration enforcement inflicting college students to overlook college.
“The college districts have been thrown into the immigration dialogue earlier this yr by the State of California when the state mandated that districts undertake a board coverage known as Response to Immigration Enforcement by March 1,” she famous.
She clarified that her feedback reassured authorized residents that they had no cause to fret, and that her remark solely utilized to these within the nation illegally.
“I’m a linguist, and to me, phrases matter. I believe it’s essential to make use of correct phrases, and it’s incorrect to conflate issues which can be essentially totally different,” she stated.
Regardless, mother and father and neighborhood members are angered.
“I disagree with these feedback,” Talia Maya stated.
“I believe as educators, the kids at all times come first, proper? Like their security, them feeling included and them feeling like they belong, you understand,” one other mum or dad, Jenny Velasco, added.
“So it’s simply unlucky to know that in 2026 we’re nonetheless having these conversations of individuals being known as unlawful or this or that, however they’re not seeing them as people, you understand? They’re seeing [children] as numbers or statistics,” Velasco stated.
The skilled educator stated she herself is an immigrant and understands the immigration course of nicely.
“As an immigrant myself, I perceive how and why unlawful aliens who’re within the nation with out authorized standing could really feel apprehensive or involved about immigration enforcement — that’s the understanding I expressed in my total remark,” she stated.
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