CVUSD issues apology after Border Patrol told to leave school career fair
THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) - The Coachella Valley Unified School District issued an apology Thursday after Border Patrol recruiters were told to leave a career fair at a high school.
On Wednesday, El Centro Sector Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino took to social media after the agency's recruiters were asked to leave the Coachella Valley High School career fair by the school's principal.
"The school’s principal told our recruiter to leave, even though the school knew we were coming and had even set up a spot for us. The principal refused to provide a explanation for the dis-invitation," Bovino wrote on social media.
The issue caused a stir on social media after Bovino's post.
Thursday, the district issued a formal apology to the agency, denouncing the behavior and reaffirming the agency's invitation to district events.
Speaking with News Channel 3, Superintendent Dr. Frances Esparza says the situation was a result of miscommunication among the principal's staff, and that he is now facing disciplinary action.
"At this point, the principal was not aware that Border Patrol was going to be on campus for this career fair. We have taken action to reprimand this principal because of the fact that we don't condone that. We don't throw law enforcement off of our campus," Esparza said.
She thinks the current political climate, which has put immigration enforcement at the forefront of many communities including Coachella, could've influenced the principal
"I'm assuming that he came to the conclusion because of the political climate that we're in and the possibility of it causing some fear to some of our students and maybe to some of our staff."
Despite federal immigration reform allowing ICE and CBP agents into schools and churches, CBP says in the Coachella Valley those fears are unfounded.
"We just don't do enforcement operations, at schools looking for undocumented students, or trying to arrest parents as they're picking up or dropping off kids. That hasn't happened in 30 years or more," David Kim, Assistant CBP Chief, said.
