ICYMI: Peters, Vargas Hold Know Your Rights Webinar with Local Stakeholders

October 1, 2026

San Diego, CA – Last week, U.S. Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) hosted a virtual training event with Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52) and representatives from Kids Belong in Classrooms and Immigrant Defenders Law Center. The webinar helped ensure community members understand how to safely interact with federal law enforcement officers, what to do if they or their loved ones are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and what resources are available to San Diego’s immigrant community. 

During the week of September 7th, San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) and San Diego City College both informed the Congressman's office of ICE arrest activity outside their schools. These are in addition to a dramatic increase in ICE activity across San Diego County, especially around sensitive locations like schools, childcare facilities, hospitals, courthouses, and places of worship. 

“Regardless of your immigration status, you have certain rights in this country,” said Rep. Peters. “These resources are more important than ever as community members continue to navigate frightening and lawless interactions with federal law enforcement officers under the Trump Administration. Until ICE operations change to responsibly target dangerous criminals instead of hardworking families, I will continue to push for real reforms and hold the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accountable for the fear it has inflicted on my constituents and communities across the country.” 

“Everyone has constitutional rights when interacting with ICE or law enforcement – regardless of immigration status. As ICE continues to target our communities, it’s more important than ever that people know their rights and understand how to exercise them,” said Rep. Juan Vargas. “Thank you to my colleague, Rep. Scott Peters, for holding this important Know Your Rights training to help us look out for one another.” 

Watch and share a recording of the training here. Additional resources from Kids Belong in Classrooms and Immigrant Defenders Law Center can be accessed below: 

Further Background:   

Rep. Peters joined his California colleagues to call on DHS to end ICE enforcement activity around schools and educational institutions in San Diego County.  

Rep. Peters is an original cosponsor of the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would bar immigration enforcement within 1,000 feet of schools, hospitals, and churches except in true emergencies. He also introduced the Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act, a bill to make our communities safer by establishing a stronger standard for Federal immigration agents' use of force.  Rep. Peters has pushed Congress to pass these commonsense reforms, but they have been blocked by the Republican majority.     

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