Denver Public Schools this week filed a temporary restraining order to reinstate its schools’ sensitive location status and keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers off campus.
The district filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday in federal court in hopes of reversing President Donald Trump’s new policy of stripping schools of their protected status.
In a letter to families, Denver Superintendent Alex Marrero wrote that the temporary restraining order reflects the district’s commitment to providing high-quality education, safety and inclusivity to its students.
“Our students belong in their schools and deserve to feel safe,” Marrero wrote. “The U.S. Constitution requires we provide education for our students regardless of their immigration status or the status of their families.”
“While DPS may be the first public school district to file a TRO, I encourage other districts nationwide to exercise their power and take action toward protecting their students.”
Last week, sweeping immigration enforcement operations were conducted throughout the Denver metro area, CBS News Colorado reports. In an interview with Marrero, the superintendent said attendance was impacted severely.
In one classroom he visited, he said, there were fewer than 20% of students present.
“Do we have to really wait until they approach or enter our schools to say, “OK, it’s time to do something?’ I think it’s time to protect the fact that we are educators, not first responders,” he told CBS News Colorado.
‘Our policies remain the same’
The lawsuit comes at a time when school policy in many areas is up in the air regarding how educators are expected to respond and comply with ICE. For instance, a Baltimore County Public Schools teacher has been placed on leave for allegedly threatening to report undocumented students to federal agents, The Baltimore Banner reports.
Meanwhile, New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos offered guidance to schools about handling visits from federal immigration authorities. In a letter to families, she reminds everyone that New York’s Education Department’s policies have not changed and that schools don’t collect information about students’ immigration status.
She reminds schools and families that ICE and other non-local law enforcement agencies are not allowed in schools without legal order. Otherwise, school staff knows to contact its attorneys.
“New York City Public Schools is dedicated to protecting the right of every student to attend public school, regardless of immigration status, national origin or religion,” Aviles-Ramos wrote. “Our policies remain the same, and I encourage you to continue to send your children to school.”
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