ICE presence continues around Santa Monica

Wagingnonviolence.org / Contributor

Santa Monica High School student holds poster that reads “Keep ICE out of Santa Monica,” during the student-led “Samohi walkout against Trump” protest in February of 2025.

On Monday, Sept. 8, the Supreme Court voted to uphold roving patrols for immigration stops in Los Angeles. With immigrants making up roughly 23.3% percent of Santa Monica’s population, the impact of such policies is significant.

While advocacy groups have criticized the policy as discriminatory, the Trump administration frames it as a matter of public safety and national defense.

According to the White House website, “Enforcing our Nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States.”

Although the city of Santa Monica does not officially deem itself to be a sanctuary city, its police department has strict policies in place for cooperating with border patrol officers. Despite these protections, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are still visible.

In June, President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard as a response to immigration protests in Los Angeles. On Sept. 2 a federal judge ruled that this implementation violates the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally prohibits the use of the U.S. military for domestic law enforcement.

ICE is a US government agency in charge of enforcing immigration laws in the United States. Its stated mission is to protect the U.S. from cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety. Samo student Joshua Ghermezian (’27) connected his views on immigration directly to how ICE operates.

“It’s as simple as, if you come here and you’re not supposed to be here, we’re going to remove you,” Ghermezian said. “So I support 100% of the deportations of illegal immigrants in this country because they shouldn’t be here in the first place.”

Latinx rights advocate and Samo student Angelina Cons-Santiago (’27) notes feeling uncertain about how appearance or language may influence how they are perceived.

“ICE agents are allowed to racially profile you based on the way you look and whether or not you speak English,” Cons-Santiago said.

These concerns have become part of broader conversations about how to maintain a supportive and inclusive school environment. ASB president Sadie Gryczman (’26) even revealed that immigration enforcement in the city has raised concerns among some families.

“I think it's just created a lot of concern and uncertainty,” Gryczman said. “And it's definitely not a comfortable situation for a lot of people. I know people were reposting things because they were worried about ICE showing up at different events, and no student should have to worry about that.”

The district states that a lawfully executed court order is required for access, meaning that without a warrant, it is not possible for ICE officers to enter school grounds. Superintendent Antonio Sheldon made the purpose of these district policies very clear in a letter addressing immigration concerns.

“Our schools serve as safe havens for our students and families and will continue to do so,” Sheldon said.

In Los Angeles more broadly, anti-ICE demonstrations serve to reveal widespread opposition to the government crackdown. Demonstrations have been organized in public spaces around the city, with participants voicing their concerns about federal enforcement policies and raising concerns about how these actions affect local communities.

Some community members and students see ICE as a security response to safeguard our borders and federal law. On the other hand, concerns about racial profiling, safety and the possibility of deportation reflect challenges that some immigrant communities report experiencing. As debate over immigration and ICE continues, Santa Monica remains a microcosm of the broader national conversation.