Two school bus routes in California were disrupted this week after groups of illegal immigrants attempted to board them, highlighting ongoing concerns related to the immigration crisis at the southern border.
According to an email sent to families by Superintendent Liz Bystedt of the Jamul-Dulzura Union School District, the incidents occurred along the district’s A and B bus routes. The email, obtained by FOX 5, detailed that the first incident took place on Tuesday afternoon along Route A, near the intersection of Highway 94 and Cochera Via. A group of three men walking in the middle of the highway attempted to stop a school bus, forcing the driver to maneuver around them.
The second incident occurred on Wednesday morning on Route B, where a group of approximately 20 illegal immigrants tried to board a bus as it was picking up students at the same location. Fortunately, parents present at the stop intervened, helping the driver prevent anyone from boarding the bus. The school district reported both incidents to the U.S. Border Patrol, the California Highway Patrol, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
Kimberly King, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Department, confirmed the incidents in a statement, saying, “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. The Sheriff’s Office takes issues regarding student safety very seriously and is working with the school district to ensure the safety of students and the community.”
In her email, Superintendent Bystedt emphasized that “for the safety of students and bus drivers,” buses will now bypass stops if illegal immigrants are observed nearby, proceeding directly to the next stop on the route. She advised parents to “stay vigilant” and, if necessary, follow the bus to pick up their children at the next designated stop.