Critical Discourse Analysis: San Diego County School District Responses to Immigration Policies

• In Event: Governing Democracy: School Boards, Elections, and Local Policy Responses

Abstract

This paper examines the response of K-12 school districts in San Diego County to the immigration policies under the Trump administration in 2025. Using critical discourse analysis (CDA), the study investigates official board policies and resolutions. The preliminary findings reveal a pattern of institutional hesitance and reliance on professional associations for guidance. The research highlights how school boards utilize carefully crafted language that establishes administrative barriers to immigration enforcement while maintaining technical legal compliance. This study contributes to understanding how school governance operates under political duress and how discourse mediates institutional responses to immigration enforcement in public education.

Author

• Ambrosia Daphne Solis, University of California - Riverside