San Diego School Board Member, Maya Phillips, defends controversial comments on immigration and classroom sizes

A local California education board member defended her comments where 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 a March 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 to an 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 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in San Diego and 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.

She clarified that her comments reassured legal residents they had no reason to worry, and that her observation only applied to those in the country illegally.

“I am a linguist, and to me, words matter. I think it’s very important to use accurate terms, and it’s wrong to conflate things that are fundamentally different,” she said.

Regardless, parents and community members are angered.

“I disagree with those comments,” Talia Maya said.

“I think as educators, the children always come first, right? Like their safety, them feeling included and them feeling like they belong, you know,” another parent, Jenny Velasco, added.

“So it’s just unfortunate to know that in 2026 we’re still having these conversations of people being called illegal or this or that, but they’re not seeing them as humans, you know? They’re seeing [children] as numbers or statistics,” Velasco said.

The experienced educator said she herself is an immigrant and understands the immigration process well.

“As an immigrant myself, I understand how and why illegal aliens who are in the country without legal status may feel worried or concerned about immigration enforcement — that is the understanding I expressed in my overall comment,” she said.

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