Portland, Ore. (KPTV) — The Portland Public School Board unanimously passed a measure to protect school children from immigration raids.
Octaviano Merecias with the Latino Network said, “Schools are a place to learn are a place are a place of knowledge a place where kids are safe.”
The likelihood of immigration officers storming schools to deport children is almost non-existent, said some school officials. But still, they want safeguards just in case. School board member Julie Esparza Brown said, “There isn’t a high level of concern that would be unusual but under circumstances they can and that’s what we want to leave to the advice and legal counsel of our superintendent to oversee that, rather than that be at the school level”
Under the five point plan, any immigration officer would need to go through the district and superintendent before ever stepping foot on a campus and that officer would need to give credentials and written authorization of their intent.
The measure also prohibits teachers and staff from asking children about their legal status, along with staff training, in the event an officer enters a school anyway. Esparza Brown added, “It’s more of reinforcing the policies and what the law says right now and ensuring that we will do everything to protect that sanctity of our schools”
While the school board is not expecting raids, the resolution is symbolic of their promise to protect children and their education
One parent said, “We have in this country a fundamental core value of educating all kids and it’s beautiful.”
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