WATSONVILLE TEACHER FIRED OVER PRO-ICE POST

A single Facebook comment has sparked a firestorm in Watsonville, California, leading to the removal of a teacher intern from her classroom.

Sarai Jimenez, who taught special education at MacQuiddy Elementary, was placed on paid administrative leave by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) in late January 2026 after her public support for federal immigration agents went viral.

The Post That Sparked the Protest

The controversy began over the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, shortly after a local ICE arrest in Watsonville. Jimenez posted a comment that read: “Yay!!! We need ICE in Watsonville!! It’s been getting out of hand.”

In a city that is roughly 80% Latino and home to a large population of immigrant families, the reaction was immediate and intense.

• Parental Outrage: Parents at MacQuiddy expressed "shock and unsettlement," with some calling the post "pure racism." They argued that an educator cheering for deportations creates a hostile environment where immigrant students cannot feel safe.
• Student Walkouts: On January 30, 2026, over 1,000 students marched through downtown Santa Cruz in a massive anti-ICE protest, with many citing the Watsonville teacher’s comments as a symbol of the growing fear in their community.
• Activist Demands: Local groups, including the Watsonville Brown Berets, have led the charge in calling for Jimenez's permanent termination, labeling her presence a "reflection of a hostile, unsafe environment."

The Teacher’s Defense

Jimenez has maintained that her words were "taken out of context," though she has not elaborated on the specific context that would justify the remark. She has since deleted or privatized her social media accounts and reported receiving threats, including messages about "popping her car tires."

Jimenez pointed to her history of volunteering for Migrant Head Start and serving on the board of Encompass Community Services, organizations that support low-income and immigrant families, as proof that she is not the person her critics claim she is.

A Community on Edge

The incident in Watsonville is not happening in a vacuum. It coincides with a period of extreme anxiety for California’s immigrant communities:

• Tactics in Minneapolis: Residents are closely watching reports of aggressive ICE tactics in the Midwest and the January killing of activist Renee Good by a federal agent.
• Operation Metro Surge: While local officials like Rep. Jimmy Panetta have worked to protect residents, the presence of federal agents in the region remains a high-voltage political issue.

The PVUSD is currently following state law and district procedures to resolve the personnel issue. While Jimenez remains on paid leave, the district has not yet announced a final decision on her employment status.