A California school district near the Mexico border is on high alert after a series of alarming incidents involving migrants trying to board school buses. On Wednesday morning, around 20 migrants reportedly attempted to get on a school bus in the Jamul-Dulzura Union School District, terrifying young children on board. This incident occurred just a day after a smaller group of migrants walked down a highway attempting to stop another bus, according to district officials.
The unsettling events unfolded in a region close to the border, where school buses are now being instructed to bypass stops where migrants might be waiting. On Tuesday, at least three migrants were seen walking in the middle of Highway 94, attempting to flag down a school bus, which had to swerve around them, as reported by Fox 5.
The situation escalated on Wednesday when a larger group of migrants tried to board a bus at the same stop just off the highway as students were getting on. Parents, understandably concerned, had to ensure their children’s safety.
Nicole Cardinale, a parent whose 8-year-old son was on the bus, described the incident as “really scary.” She explained that her son was “really confused” by the experience, noting that the adults trying to board the bus were carrying backpacks. “It’s just scary that these kids were put in that situation,” Cardinale said, adding that the situation could have turned dangerous if the migrants had managed to get on the bus.
The Jamul-Dulzura Union School District has reported the incidents to the California Highway Patrol, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, and the U.S. Border Patrol. Authorities are now investigating the situation to determine if any criminal activity took place.
One activist who assists at the nearby border suggested that the migrants might have mistaken the bus for a vehicle that could take them to a safer location. However, Jeremy Adams, another concerned parent, emphasized the uncertainty surrounding the situation, stating, “We don’t know who these people are. We don’t know if they have any criminal history, what their background is.”
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that it is conducting a follow-up investigation. “The Sheriff’s Office takes issues regarding student safety very seriously and is working with the school district to keep the students and our community safe,” said spokesperson Kimberly King.
In response to the incidents, School District Superintendent Liz Bystedt has directed bus drivers to skip stops where migrants are present. In a letter to parents, Bystedt urged them to stay vigilant, advising that if a bus skips their stop, they should follow the bus to the next stop to pick up their child.
