January 27, 2025
Dear Northern Humboldt Union High School District families and staff,
Nothing matters more to us than the success and safety of our students. We are committed to the education and well-being of all students no matter their immigration status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, religion, ability, sex and gender identity, socio-economic status or beliefs.
President Trump signed an executive order last week that ends the practice of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents avoiding K-12 schools, colleges, hospitals, and churches for enforcement actions. I know that this action has caused fear and a degree of uncertainty in our employees and students.
Regardless of the executive order, our commitment to your students remains as strong as ever. At Northern Humboldt, we are passionate about educating our students and helping them reach their full potential. Our mission is to provide every single one of our over 1,700 students with an equal opportunity to learn and thrive in a safe and supportive environment. We also celebrate the increasingly rich diversity of our families. We recognize that some of these families, particularly those who are undocumented, may be understandably fearful or anxious about the potential impact of these recent changes to federal immigration enforcement.
We want to share some of our efforts as we prepare for the potential of ICE or CBP agents visiting our schools. District staff are in communication with State and local officials, our legal team and local affinity groups. We are in the process of developing protocols in the event ICE or CBP undertake immigration enforcement actions in Humboldt County.
We have been working diligently to proactively respond to the changes set forth by the federal administration. To our families, please be assured that staff site leadership is being provided with updated guidelines, and our goal remains the same – protect students and keep them in school, where they belong.
Northern Humboldt will continue to follow the state law, including the California Values Act and the guidance of the California Attorney General’s office. NHUHSD will also continue to protect the privacy of student records and provide all students equal access to a high-quality education, as required by law.
None of our Northern Humboldt students, or families should ever feel alone or unsupported. If you need mental health assistance in this challenging time, please reach out to your school’s site administration. Keep your emergency contact information updated at school and make sure we have backup contacts who can pick up your child if needed. Additionally, for information about student protections and immigrant rights, please refer to this guide from the California Attorney General.
As we learn more we will communicate further with our school community.
Sincerely,
Natalie Giannini
Board of Trustees President
Roger Macdonald
Superintendent