San Diego School Board Member Sparks Outrage Over Remarks on Deporting Migrant Children

Maya Phillips claimed deporting undocumented students would improve education quality for "American and legal immigrant children."

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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A San Diego school board member, Maya Phillips, has sparked outrage after saying that deporting migrant children would improve the student-to-teacher ratio and the quality of education for "American and legal immigrant children" in the Ramona Unified School District. Phillips, who immigrated to the U.S. herself in 1999 and became a citizen in 2006, defended her comments as a "practical observation," but parents and community members have condemned the remarks as harmful and dehumanizing towards undocumented students.

Why it matters

Phillips' comments have drawn widespread criticism for promoting the deportation of migrant children, which many see as an inhumane and discriminatory policy that fails to consider the wellbeing and educational needs of all students. The remarks also highlight ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement and the treatment of undocumented families in the U.S.

The details

At a March 4 school board meeting, Phillips stated that "the more illegal aliens with children are deported from Ramona, the better the student-to-teacher ratio" and that this would "better the quality of education for our American and legal immigrant children." She defended her views as a "practical perspective," arguing that undocumented families made the "choice" to put their children in "constant fear of enforcement." Phillips' comments have been met with strong backlash from parents and community members, who have condemned the remarks as dehumanizing and harmful towards migrant students.

  • On March 4, 2026, Phillips made the controversial remarks at a Ramona Unified School District board meeting.

The players

Maya Phillips

A member of the Ramona Unified School District school board who immigrated to the U.S. from Russia in 1999 and became a U.S. citizen in 2006.

Ramona Unified School District

The school district in Ramona, California where Phillips serves on the school board.

Talia Maya

A parent who disagreed with Phillips' comments, stating "the children always come first, right? Like their safety, them feeling included and them feeling like they belong."

Jenny Velasco

Another parent who criticized Phillips' remarks, saying "it's just unfortunate to know that in 2026 we're still having these conversations of people being called illegal or this or that, but they're not seeing them as humans, you know? They're seeing [children] as numbers or statistics."

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What they’re saying

“I disagree with those comments.”

— Talia Maya, Parent (CBS 8 San Diego)

“I think as educators, the children always come first, right? Like their safety, them feeling included and them feeling like they belong, you know.”

— Jenny Velasco, Parent (CBS 8 San Diego)

“So it's just unfortunate to know that in 2026 we're still having these conversations of people being called illegal or this or that, but they're not seeing them as humans, you know? They're seeing [children] as numbers or statistics.”

— Jenny Velasco, Parent (CBS 8 San Diego)

What’s next

The Ramona Unified School District Board of Trustees has stated that they are working to create a safe and welcoming environment for all students, regardless of immigration status. It remains to be seen if Phillips will face any consequences or backlash for her controversial remarks.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and debates around immigration enforcement and the treatment of undocumented students in the U.S. education system. While some may view the deportation of migrant children as a practical solution, many others see it as a harmful and dehumanizing policy that fails to prioritize the wellbeing and educational needs of all students.