Burlingame and Hillsborough families received new guidance Monday, Oct. 12, after San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools Marco A. Chávez said local schools will protect students regardless of immigration status.
The statement from the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) responded to what the office described as reports of increased federal immigration enforcement activity in the Bay Area. It carries practical steps for families across the county: keep children in school, designate a trusted adult who can pick up a child in an emergency, and make sure schools have current contact information.
Chávez said the office is coordinating with district leaders to send information to families in the top languages spoken in the county. SMCOE is also increasing mental health and wellness support for students experiencing stress, anxiety or trauma tied to enforcement concerns, according to the statement.
Schools do not ask about immigration status as a condition of enrollment, the statement said. Student records are protected by federal and state privacy laws, and the office said it would not release personally identifiable student information without a lawful court order. Chávez cited the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Plyler v. Doe, which guarantees every student a free public education regardless of immigration status.
SMCOE said it is working with community partners to connect families with legal information and Know Your Rights materials. Resources listed include Bay Area Legal Aid, Faith in Action Rapid Response, the California Department of Justice's Know Your Educational Rights guide, the ACLU and Immigrants Rising.
Families who see Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in San Mateo County or know someone who has been detained can call the Rapid Response Hotline at (203) 666-4472, also reachable as 203-NO-MIGRA.
The statement is the second from the county education office in roughly a year. Then-Superintendent Nancy Magee issued a similar statement on Oct. 24, 2025, citing the same hotline and the same legal protections.
The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD), which includes Burlingame High School, addressed enforcement concerns separately last fall. Superintendent Randall Booker said in an Oct. 23, 2025, district message that all students belong in the district. The SMUHSD Board of Trustees approved a district-wide Emergency Response Protocol on Sept. 25, 2025, directing schools to initiate a Lockdown Barricade response if unidentified individuals claiming to be federal officers attempt to remove a student, educator or parent from campus without proper identification and a valid judicial warrant.
That protocol followed Gov. Gavin Newsom's signing of the Safe Schools Act, which includes AB 49 and SB 98. Under California's updated school guidance, immigration officers generally cannot be granted access to nonpublic school areas without appropriate judicial authorization or another legal exception. The guidance also restricts disclosure of student information. SB 98 requires schools to establish procedures for notifying families and staff when immigration enforcement is confirmed on campus.
