ICE operation in West Oakland causes schools go into 'secure protocol'

"ICE agents were spotted in West Oakland this morning by volunteer monitors and Oakland Unified School District staff, according to reports. At 12:35 p.m. the OUSD sent an email alert to parents confirming that ICE agents were "seen near the intersection of 31st Street and Market Street," two blocks away from Hoover Elementary. "Your child is safe," the email said. According to OUSD officials, Hoover Elementary went into a " secure school protocol " because of the ICE enforcement activity nearby."

"The Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership confirmed ICE was in the neighborhood around 8:40 a.m. The group said in a social media post it was "likely related to a targeted enforcement," meaning the agents were searching for a specific person and not stopping individuals randomly. "At this time, we are not aware of any related ICE arrests in Oakland," they wrote."

"Councilmember Carroll Fife, who represents West Oakland, said in a social media post that the ICE agents may have been targeting a person who was dropping their child off as school, causing a collision. The Oakland Police Department said in a press release they were not notified about the ICE operation. "Preliminary findings indicate that an outside law enforcement agency was conducting an investigation within the City of Oakland," OPD said. "During their operation, officers attempted to contact the vehicle involved in their case. That vehicle later collided with an uninvolved vehicle.""

ICE agents were seen in West Oakland near the intersection of 31st Street and Market Street, two blocks from Hoover Elementary. Oakland Unified School District alerted parents, assured children were safe, and placed Hoover Elementary into secure school protocol; Harriet Tubman CDC was already on secure protocol before dismissal. Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership confirmed ICE presence around 8:40 a.m. and said the activity was likely a targeted enforcement with no known related arrests. Councilmember Carroll Fife reported the agents may have been targeting a person dropping off a child, and Oakland Police said they were not notified and noted a collision occurred during the operation.

Read at The Oaklandside