San Ysidro High School has faced a troubling increase in student involvement in drug smuggling, particularly with fentanyl.

This issue has grown since around 2009, as teens are often tempted by the promise of quick cash and social status[2] In May 2009, a senior prank at the school led to a significant police response.

The principal at the time, Hector Espinoza, raised security concerns, as one student had access to a building key.

[3][4] In June 2009, a former student avoided felony charges after bringing homemade bottle bombs to school as a prank.

[6] On February 2015, two teenage boys were questioned by detectives regarding discussions of a potential assault on students and staff at the high school.

[9][10][11] In September 2021, students at Grossmont, Sweetwater, and San Ysidro high schools protested dress codes they labelled "sexist and outdated".

The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency collaborated with school officials to notify those who may have been at risk.

[15] In February 2023, San Ysidro High School was placed on lockdown after a loaded ghost gun was found in a parked Ford Mustang on campus.

Following the ceremony, the speech garnered the attention of news outlets around the United States and went viral on many social media platforms.

A video detailing the incident, created by the YouTube channel "NowThis News" amassed over 8 million views.