The Portland School Council voted 7-0 on March to update and strengthen a directive that states that district employees are not required to provide information or assistance to the United States Immigration and Customs Service (ICE, as it is known in English) in order to enforce federal civil immigration laws.
According to the resolution, school staff may refuse immigration officials entry to the school without a court order, or they may refuse to release immigration officials who detain an employee or student without a court order.
According to Gary Hollands, a member of the school junta, “we are being forced to reafirm humanity by music and protect the students from the fear of the agencies that do not have a place in our classes or schools.”
The directive is a response to the administration of Donald Trump, the elected president. Trump has stated that there are mass deportations around the country.
Magal Rabasa, a mother whose children attend Beaumont Middle School and Rigler Elementary School, is a member of the school council that starts by introducing the employees of CMO to immigration agents. “The district must provide resources and support to students, employees, and families who may be impacted by the federal immigration policies under President Trump,” she said.
Officials from the district reported that training for school personnel, including school and university career counselors, had already begun.
Julia Silverman reports for The Oregonian/OregonLive on K–12 education. You may reach them by email at [email protected].
A Hispanic-speaking periodist translated this work of art.
