Declining the call to deport
December 7, 2016
When Donald Trump became the President-elect less than four weeks ago, millions of Americans were sent into a frenzy.
During one of his speeches, Trump pledged to deport two to three million immigrants as soon as he takes office in January. In response, school districts and universities have stated that they would not support this hunt for illegal immigrants.
The Los Angeles Board of Education recently approved a policy that would not allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents onto school campuses without the approval of the district’s lawyers and superintendent.
The board also stated that they will continue to protect the data and identities of students, family members and school members who could be affected by future policies.
Currently, these ICE agents do not enforce searches in schools and churches, but the Board’s main message is that schools should be safe havens for students and workers whether they’re documented or not.
“We interpret that to make sure that all schools are safe places and safe zones and that ICE agents, or any immigration action, does not take place on our school sites,” LAUSD board president Steve Zimmer said.
Colleges around the nation have also denounced Trump’s deportation plans by signing a statement that supports the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an immigration policy passed in 2012 that protects children from being deported if they had entered the country before their sixteenth birthday. Over 200 colleges signed the statement, including the University of California.
“We felt it necessary to reaffirm that UC will act upon its deeply held conviction that all members of our community have the right to work, study and live safely and without fear at all UC locations,” UC President Janet Napolitano stated.
Many will say that schools and universities should be assisting ICE agents in searching for undocumented students.
There’s a belief that these students are using up taxpayers’ money and taking away opportunities for those who are legal citizens.
However, universities and schools should provide an environment for students to grow and develop. College attendees and high schoolers expect security and a safe learning environment.
This is not to say that illegal immigration should not be dealt with. It is one of the biggest issues in America, but it’s not something that schools should be responsible for.
Their jobs are supposed to educate and protect students, not helping federal agents hunt for immigrants.
