Over 20 illegal immigrants tried boarding school buses in southern California this week, prompting school officials to warn parents to ensure the safety of their children while boarding school buses.
Fox 5 San Diego reported that two school bus routes in the Jamul-Dulzura Union School District were interrupted by groups of illegal immigrants on Tuesday and Wednesday. As a result, Superintendent Liz Bystedt sent an email to school district families, warning them to “stay [vigilant].”
According to Fox 5, the first school bus incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when three illegal immigrant men walked in the middle of the street and tried to force the school bus to stop. The outlet reported that the bus was filled with children at the time of the incident and that Bystedt said the bus was forced to “go around” the group of illegal immigrants.
The second incident occurred when a group of 20 illegal immigrants attempted to board a bus that was stopped at a designated pick-up location on Wednesday. The superintendent explained that no illegal immigrants were able to board the bus and that the parents at the bus stop were able to make sure that the students boarded safely boarded the bus.
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According to Fox 5, no injuries were reported to the students, staff members, or illegal immigrants involved in the two school bus incidents. The outlet noted that officials have not confirmed whether the two groups of illegal immigrants were connected.
Bystedt noted that the Jamul-Dulzura Union School District reported both incidents to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol, and the U.S. Border Patrol.
“The San Diego Sheriff’s Office was made aware of this incident today. We are conducting a follow up investigation to determine if a criminal act has occurred,” Kimberly King, a San Diego Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, said in a statement to Fox 5. “The Sheriff’s Office takes issues regarding student safety very seriously and are working with the school district in order to keep the students and our community safe.”
As law enforcement officials investigate the school bus incidents, district officials informed parents that bus drivers will bypass any bus stops where suspected illegal immigrants are gathered. Bystedt told parents, “Please stay [vigilant] and if the bus drives by, please follow the bus to pick up your child at the next stop.”
