A local California education board memberdefended her commentswhere she said deportation was “better” for the student-to-teacher ratio as “more illegal aliens with children are deported.”
Maya Phillips, a board member of the Ramona Unified School District, has since defended the comments she made at aMarch 4 meeting. She says her critics concerns appear to stem from a “second-hand, incorrect interpretation.”
“I did not express a personal opinion; my comment was a factual, neutral, and legally compliant observation about the potential practical effects of federal immigration enforcement policies,” she told the California Post in a statement. “I did not use any words that would suggest my preference for one side or another.”
She insisted her comments were an “unemotional observation” about the “practical effects” of immigration enforcement policies.
“I stand by my comment. I also encourage anyone with questions to reach out to me directly to avoid further misunderstandings,” she said.
San Diego County — home toan estimated 150,000+ undocumented immigrants— has been especially affected by nationwide immigration enforcement. In 2025, child detentions rose sharply: more than 250 children were arrested byImmigration and Customs Enforcement in San Diegoand Imperial counties.
Phillips said she wanted to clarify her “personal commitment.”
“Public schools exist to educate and support every child who walks through the doors, regardless of their background. I agree, and that is the law,” she added. “I want to reaffirm my personal commitment to supporting every student and family, regardless of their background or immigration status, as required by law.”
Phillips insisted her remarks were taken out of context, saying she was addressing concerns from families about immigration enforcement causing students to miss school.
“The school districts were thrown into the immigration discussion earlier this year by the State of California when the state mandated that districts adopt a board policy called Response to Immigration Enforcement by March 1,” she noted.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
