SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Two rallies were held in San Diego County on Tuesday against Assembly Bill 429, as parents and community members spoke out against the bill moving through the state legislature.
Those for the bill argue it keeps immigrant children safe, while those against it say the bill does the opposite.
“No on AB 495. It’s kidnapping, child trafficking behind a parents back,” Marci Strange, a parent and chair of the Taxpayers Oversight for Parents and Students (TOPS), said while protesting outside the San Diego Unified School District Tuesday afternoon.
The bill, referred to as the Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025, is intended to help children of immigrants in case they get separated from their parents during immigration enforcement, by expanding who can make decisions on behalf of the child.
“I think it might have good intentions but very disastrous affects,” Strange added.
“It puts immigrant children at most risk,” said Don Carson, the pastor at River Church of San Diego.
Tuesday morning there was also a rally held in Lakeside where Lakeside School Board Member Andrew Hayes spoke.
“It’s a slap in the face and tone deaf to the fact that parents have a right to make sure their kids are safe in school,” Hayes said.
He said he has plans for the district to get around the bill if it passes.
“We’re going to implement new policy that’s parallel so that if somebody presents this form, we have other paths to make sure that we release them, whether that’s a verification photo ID, all of those things we can do, they are in our purview, and we will,” Hayes added.
Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez who introduced the bill said in a statement, “AB 495 was developed in partnership with children’s and family law experts, and it does not allow strangers to claim guardianship over children without accountability.”
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