Teacher Vows to Keep Classroom a Safe Space Amid ICE Raids

Graduate student in UC Santa Barbara's Teacher Education Program describes fear and anxiety after learning of ICE activity near her school.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 8:21am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A graduate student in UC Santa Barbara's Teacher Education Program describes the fear and anxiety she felt after learning of ICE activity near the school where she teaches first grade. Despite the disruption outside, she worked to maintain a calm and welcoming environment for her students, many of whom did not show up that day due to concerns about the ICE presence. The teacher expresses her hope that schools can always be safe spaces where students can learn without fear.

Why it matters

This story highlights the challenges teachers face in providing a safe and nurturing environment for their students, especially in communities impacted by immigration enforcement actions. It underscores the vital role schools play in supporting families and the importance of ensuring campuses remain welcoming spaces for all children.

The details

The teacher, who is the first in her family to attend a four-year university and earn a bachelor's degree, is now part of the highly recognized graduate program at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UC Santa Barbara. On the morning in question, she received a message about ICE activity in the neighborhood surrounding the school where she teaches first grade. This caused her great anxiety, as she worried about her students and their families feeling safe to come to school. When she arrived, only 10 out of 23 students were present, and as she led the Pledge of Allegiance, she could hear car horns, megaphones, and people shouting outside that 'ICE is here! Don't come out!'

  • On a recent morning, the teacher woke up to a message about ICE activity in the neighborhood surrounding the school.
  • By 8 a.m., only 10 out of 23 students in the teacher's first-grade class were present.

The players

Sofia Arias Zarate

A graduate student in UC Santa Barbara's Teacher Education Program who is working to become a teacher.

UC Santa Barbara's Gevirtz Graduate School of Education

The highly recognized graduate program where Sofia Arias Zarate is studying to become a teacher.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Every day, I greet my students with a hug as they enter the classroom. I smile as they walk up the ramp, hang their backpacks, and come up to me while I say, '¡Buenos días!' I get to meet the parents who drop their children off at school because they trust that schools are safe spaces — places where their children will learn, connect with friends, and simply get to be kids.”

— Sofia Arias Zarate, Graduate student and teacher (independent.com)

“While teaching is not easy, the truth is that teachers give their hearts to this work. They show up for their children every day. They protect them, guide them, and care for them in ways that go far beyond academics. My greatest hope is that one day my classroom will always feel like a safe space, a place where students can learn without fear, without anxiety, and without the threat of being separated from the people they love most.”

— Sofia Arias Zarate, Graduate student and teacher (independent.com)

What’s next

The teacher hopes that schools can continue to be safe spaces for all students, and that communities can come together to fight injustice and ensure liberty and justice for all.

The takeaway

This story underscores the vital role teachers play in providing a safe and nurturing environment for their students, even in the face of disruptions and threats to the community. It highlights the importance of ensuring schools remain welcoming spaces where all children can learn and grow without fear.