School districts across the country are having to step up efforts to reassure immigrant communities that schools are safe places. With the President-elect scheduled to take office in a few weeks, many are concerned about his eagerness to address immigration, which has been a hot topic for Trump. As a part of his immigration plan, he has vowed to build a wall that Mexico will pay for, end sanctuary cities and a host of other alarming goals. His plans have left many feeling vulnerable and under attack. What used to be safe spaces are no longer such in their eyes. One place that has vowed to remain a safe place in the midst of political transition and policy changes are schools.
Many school districts, including D.C. Public Schools, have promised families that immigration status is not a factor in providing children with an education. According to them, each child has a protected right under the U.S. Constitution that provides equal access to an education. Teachers will not ask a student about their immigration status or that of their parents. Teachers have also been instructed that they can't share a student or their parent's immigration status if they learn of it.
This promise to make schools a safe place helps reassure families who might be afraid to send their children to school because they are undocumented and fear deportation. According to the Washington Post, the Minneapolis Board of Education has voted to make its schools a safe place. And the Los Angeles education board has vowed to keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents off of campus unless the superintendent and district lawyers consent.
But the concern isn't only surrounding deportation. Many are also worried about the harassment and bullying students have had to endure since the election. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, since the election, there has been 1,094 biased related harassment and intimidation incidents. In states like Virginia, the ACLU has asked that school districts become proactive in protecting immigrant students from these types of incidents. Bill Farrar of the Virginia ACLU told WRIC, "Every student, regardless of their status, is entitled to an education in an environment that is free from harassment, bullying or discrimination."
As the country prepares for President-elect Trump's first 100 days in office, we can only hope that his immigration policies don't further strip the community of safety and liberty.
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