Scenes of the ceremony honoring fallen U.S. Border Patrol officers during the National Memorial Ceremony at the National Border Patrol Museum in El Paso on May 24, 2024.
Coachella, California – A California school district has issued an apology after a U.S. Border Patrol recruiter was denied access to a high school career fair, calling the incident an “inadvertent” misunderstanding.
The Coachella Valley Unified School District acknowledged that the recruiter was turned away by the principal at Coachella Valley High School during a career fair on Wednesday. In a statement, the district clarified that the decision was not in line with its policies and assured that corrective action would be taken.
“We want to make it very clear that we do not condone this behavior, and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken with the involved staff members to ensure this does not happen again,” the district said in a news release.
The district also emphasized the importance of exposing students to diverse career paths, including law enforcement. “Our students have greatly appreciated the valuable interactions and insights they have gained from learning about careers in law enforcement and the Border Patrol. We recognize the importance of providing our students with real-world career options and opportunities,” the statement continued.
U.S. Border Patrol Sector Chief Gregory Bovino addressed the situation on X (formerly Twitter), questioning whether there were “agendas in schools?” However, after receiving the district’s apology, he responded with appreciation, writing, “We look forward to continuing our relationship with them for the benefit of our youth & students.”
The career fair hosted 36 vendors, according to the Desert Sun. Bovino noted that the Border Patrol has been invited to participate in the event for three years as part of efforts to promote careers in federal law enforcement.
The incident comes amid broader discussions within the district regarding immigration-related policies. Earlier this year, the district introduced “Know Your Rights” red cards, which help students and families understand their rights when dealing with federal immigration authorities. Additionally, last week, the school board approved a policy outlining protocols for responding to immigration enforcement.
Despite the recent controversy, the district has reaffirmed its commitment to welcoming the U.S. Border Patrol at future career fairs across its three high schools.
