Pro-ICE student suspended over posters at California high school where hundreds of anti-ICE students walked out

A letter circulating on social media appears to show that a California high school has suspended a student over signs showing support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The letter from Torrey Pines High School in San Diego and dated February 27 affirmed that students have a right to free speech but asserted that the signs violated a policy against “conduct that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment,” according to a picture.

‘This is divisive language. Being American means tolerating protests.’

The letter said that the student was caught on video “posting flyers in the learning commons and in hallways that stated I Love ICE from Real Americans.”

It went on to define the “fighting words” doctrine: “While a high bar, in a school context, words that are intentionally used to provoke a violent reaction or target a marginalized group’s right to be on campus can be restricted to maintain safety.”

It said the student would be suspended for March 2 and indicated that one-day suspension was the student’s first suspension of the year.

Torrey Pines High School is also the location of a walkout protest against ICE that included hundreds of students. The school did not sanction the protest and warned students that they would be marked truant if they left the campus.

A bilingual Latino newspaper in San Diego supported the suspension.

“Students suspended at Torrey Pines HS over ‘We [heart] I.C.E. by Real Americans’ posters. Critics say it’s unfair after anti-ICE protests,” read the post by La Prensa.

RELATED: 100 outraged community members denounce grade school teacher over 2-word pro-ICE post

Photo by Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

“The difference: not loving ICE doesnt [sic] mean protesters are not ‘real Americans.’ This is divisive language. Being American means tolerating protests,” the outlet wrote unironically.

The San Dieguito Union High School District released the following statement via email to Blaze News:

The San Dieguito Union High School District is aware of recent social media posts regarding an incident at Torrey Pines High School in late February. Some online commentary has suggested that students were disciplined because of their political views, but that claim is inaccurate — the District does not discipline students because of their political viewpoints. The District promotes all lawful exercise of free speech and students’ rights to express their viewpoints while also maintaining school campuses that are safe, orderly, and respectful learning environments for everyone.

The district also said it could not comment on disciplinary actions.

Editor’s note: This article has been edited after publication to include a statement from the school district.

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