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As President Trump calls for mass deportations, Pittsburgh area schools scramble to clarify their policies
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – With President Trump calling for the largest mass deportation in the country’s history; it has some concerned about sending their children to school.
What are schools required to do and how are they planning to deal with this situation?
According to school districts, it’s their own policies they have to create on handling these situations if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is to come to a school. While there is some ambiguity with the districts, there are some standards they are required to follow.
According to information from the U.S. Department of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services, districts can’t ask students about their immigration status.
“Our focus is protecting the students, protecting their records, and making sure they are safe in school,” Pittsburgh Public Schools solicitor Ira Weiss said.
He said school leaders have sent out memos to staff addressing if ICE comes to a school. It would include building administrators handling it. Any visit from ICE would need to be with a warrant. To this point, there’s been no raids at schools.
“We’ve had anecdotal reports of ICE vehicles being in certain neighborhoods,” Weiss said.
Other districts echo this. Belle Vernon sent out a memo telling staff that building administrators are to be contacted immediately. It adds that no one should interfere with any ICE activities, but they are not to share any student information.
Aliquippa is more of the same. Unless there is a valid warrant signed by a judge or an emergency, law enforcement including ICE can’t come into schools.
“This is a day-to-day situation, and we follow the announcements closely,” Weiss said.
According to Pittsburgh Public, their data doesn’t suggest there has been a chilling effect on attendance. They will have a better idea over the next few weeks.
In light of President Trump’s recent call for mass deportations, Pittsburgh area schools are scrambling to clarify their policies regarding the immigration status of their students.
Many school districts in the Pittsburgh area have released statements reassuring students and families that they do not inquire about immigration status and that all students are welcome regardless of their background. However, the fear and uncertainty surrounding the current political climate has left many families feeling anxious and unsure about what the future holds for their children.
School officials are working to provide support and resources for students and families who may be affected by the threat of deportation. This includes working with local organizations to provide legal assistance, counseling services, and other forms of support.
As tensions continue to rise, it is important for schools to remain a safe and welcoming environment for all students, regardless of their immigration status. Pittsburgh area schools are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive community for all of their students, and will continue to work to ensure that every child has access to a quality education, regardless of their background.
Tags:
- President Trump
- Mass deportations
- Pittsburgh area schools
- Immigration policies
- School policies
- Trump administration
- Deportation concerns
- Immigration regulations
- School guidelines
- Pittsburgh community
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