Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Fresno Unified Substitute Questions Students About Immigration Status
Anya gvwire profile photo (1)
By Anya Ellis
Published 3 months ago on
February 12, 2025

An audio recording captured a Fresno Unified substitute teacher questioning Roosevelt High students about their immigration status. (GV Wire Composite/ Paul Marshall)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Fresno Unified School District is under fire after audio of a substitute teacher questioning students’ immigration status was posted online on Feb. 5.

The substitute teacher, unidentified by the district, condemned U.S. immigration policy, questioned how long students have lived in the U.S., and spoke about legal resident green cards.

The district swiftly responded to the recording, calling the comments “inappropriate” and “unacceptable”.

The incident allegedly happened at Roosevelt High, where Hispanic or Latino students comprise more than 82% of the enrollment.

One mother, speaking to ABC 30, shared that this is not the only incident with this teacher. She had addressed a similar issue last year with the school and hoped this recording would push the district to do something.

Social media posts called for the removal of involved personnel and several commenters questioned how the district is handling the situation.

Representatives of the district, citing privacy laws, have not said whether the substitute teacher was removed from Fresno Unified sub list.

But, in a public statement, the district said that its human resources department is addressing the situation.

The statement asserts that Fresno Unified is making steps to “ensure that those entrusted with our students reflect our unwavering commitment to creating a safe and inclusive learning environment.”

Current Climate at Fresno Unified

This comes during a tenuous time for students and schools, as ICE raids ordered in conjunction with President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown continue across the country.

In response to Trump’s mass deportation efforts, Fresno Unified students have organized multiple walkouts. The protesters carry Mexican flags and homemade signs.

In previous interview with GV Wire, Interim Superintendent Misty Her addressed the current climate.

We’re here to educate, regardless of your immigration status, your citizenship. We are not immigration,” Her said, “When our kids and our families come, we are going to love and care about them and provide places where they belong, and they can learn. That is our goal. That is the consistent message that I’ve been giving to staff, and we are mindful of that.”

The district has echoed this message in multiple statements and social media posts.

They reiterated their dedication to refrain from questioning students’ immigration status or allowing ICE into school sites, unless the officers have a warrant.

The district encourages students to report any incidents of concern.

“If you see something, say something—this allows us to act swiftly in ensuring our schools remain safe and welcoming spaces for all,” the district said in a statement.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Ex-Memphis Officer Took Photo of Tyre Nichols After Fatal Beating, Shared It 11 Times

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Freeway Crash Caused by Repeat DUI Offender

DON'T MISS

Trump Company Strikes Qatari Golf Resort Deal Despite Conflict Risks

DON'T MISS

Hugging Face Releases Affordable 3D-Printed Robotic Arm

DON'T MISS

State Says Arambula CEMEX Bill Subverts CEQA. What’s Next for San Joaquin River?

DON'T MISS

Trump Admin Cuts $1 Billion in School Mental Health Grants, Citing Conflict of Priorities

DON'T MISS

Visa Wants to Give Artificial Intelligence ‘Agents’ Your Credit Card

DON'T MISS

UNC’s Belichick Defends Hudson as ‘Doing Her Job’ After Interjecting During CBS Interview

DON'T MISS

Why Is Misty Her Getting a Big Pay Bump as Fresno Unified’s New Superintendent?

DON'T MISS

Microsoft Quarterly Profits Up 18% as It Weathers Tech Sector Turbulence With Cloud Growth

UP NEXT

Why Is Misty Her Getting a Big Pay Bump as Fresno Unified’s New Superintendent?

UP NEXT

Trump Officials Must Report Efforts, if Any, to Return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Judge Rules

UP NEXT

Kings County Authorities Seek Help Identifying Woman Found Dead Near Corcoran

UP NEXT

Smoke Shop Owners Vow Lawsuit After Fresno Passes Regulations

UP NEXT

Fresno County to Honor Fallen Officers at Annual Memorial Ceremony

UP NEXT

Wired Wednesday — FUSD Facing Four Lawsuits Including Nepotism and Incompetence

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day Sought for Lewd Acts with a Child

UP NEXT

California Sent Investigators to ICE Facilities. They Found More Detainees, and Health Care Gaps

UP NEXT

Fresno Unified Board May Vote to Hand More Control to Superintendent

UP NEXT

Fresno Unified’s New Supe Allegedly Helped Promote Her Cousin. 4 Lawsuits Claim Nepotism, Incompetence

Anya Ellis,
Multimedia Journalist
Anya Ellis began working for GV Wire in July 2023. The daughter of journalists, Anya is a Fresno native and Buchanan High School graduate. She is currently at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in film and media studies and minoring in creative writing. She plans to pursue her masters in screenwriting after graduating. You can contact Anya at anya.ellis@gvwire.com.

Hugging Face Releases Affordable 3D-Printed Robotic Arm

4 hours ago

State Says Arambula CEMEX Bill Subverts CEQA. What’s Next for San Joaquin River?

5 hours ago

Trump Admin Cuts $1 Billion in School Mental Health Grants, Citing Conflict of Priorities

6 hours ago

Visa Wants to Give Artificial Intelligence ‘Agents’ Your Credit Card

6 hours ago

UNC’s Belichick Defends Hudson as ‘Doing Her Job’ After Interjecting During CBS Interview

6 hours ago

Why Is Misty Her Getting a Big Pay Bump as Fresno Unified’s New Superintendent?

6 hours ago

Microsoft Quarterly Profits Up 18% as It Weathers Tech Sector Turbulence With Cloud Growth

6 hours ago

Trump Officials Must Report Efforts, if Any, to Return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Judge Rules

6 hours ago

US Senate to Vote on Bill to Rein in Trump Tariffs as Economy Contracts

7 hours ago

Visalia Police Arrest Man Accused of Fleeing Police, Leaving Disabled Mother Behind

8 hours ago

Ex-Memphis Officer Took Photo of Tyre Nichols After Fatal Beating, Shared It 11 Times

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A cybercrime expert with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation testified Wednesday that a former Memphis police officer cha...

4 hours ago

4 hours ago

Ex-Memphis Officer Took Photo of Tyre Nichols After Fatal Beating, Shared It 11 Times

A repeat DUI offender with five prior convictions was arrested after stopping his truck in the middle of Highway 99 in Fresno County, causing a crash that flipped another vehicle and blocked all northbound lanes. (CHP)
4 hours ago

Fresno County Freeway Crash Caused by Repeat DUI Offender

4 hours ago

Trump Company Strikes Qatari Golf Resort Deal Despite Conflict Risks

4 hours ago

Hugging Face Releases Affordable 3D-Printed Robotic Arm

5 hours ago

State Says Arambula CEMEX Bill Subverts CEQA. What’s Next for San Joaquin River?

6 hours ago

Trump Admin Cuts $1 Billion in School Mental Health Grants, Citing Conflict of Priorities

6 hours ago

Visa Wants to Give Artificial Intelligence ‘Agents’ Your Credit Card

6 hours ago

UNC’s Belichick Defends Hudson as ‘Doing Her Job’ After Interjecting During CBS Interview

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend