The chief administrator of Denver Public Schools has defied President Donald Trump, saying that ICE will not be allowed on his campuses after the president authorized agents to conduct deportation raids at schools.
In a memo from Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero to principals in the area, the message was simple: if ICE agents arrive, "do not allow entry into the building," as reported by KDVR.
Marrero instructed school officials to utilize the intercom to communicate with the agents. The principals were told to ask for a copy of the warrant, and if the agents did not have a warrant, they were told to tell the agents to leave, as reported by 9News.
Similarly, Aurora Public Schools told staff to "inform federal agents the district has a process regarding requests to talk with students."
Denver Public Schools also encouraged parents to opt out of providing personal information to the school's directory if they were concerned about this issue, as it is publicly available, as reported by the Denver Gazette.
During his first days in office, the Trump administration removed protections that prohibited immigration authorities from entering schools, hospitals, churches and other "sensitive areas." This was meant to prevent undocumented immigrants from feeling like they could not obtain essential services at these locations.
Several schools across the country have begun training their teachers and staff on how to shield their students from ICE agents, as if raids were conducted at schools, the children would unlikely have parents or guardians present with them.
They are also working with their students so that they know what to do in case this happens. "We are (encouraging) them to know (their) rights and that you have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney," Flor Canales, a member of the non-profit Movimiento Poder, which focuses on issues like students' and immigrants' rights, told KDVR.
Originally published on Latin Times
