Chicago Public Schools (CPS) The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) issued a joint letter Thursday reaffirming that they are a “haven” space for “all students, parents, staff and community members at the school for school-related business.”
“We know that many of our students, families, and staff have expressed concern and concern about the impact the new presidential administration will have on our public school schools. All stakeholders in the school community can be assured that our schools will remain safe learning environments that promote respect, love, and tolerance,” the letter penned CPS CEO Pedro Martinez W CTU President Stacey Davis GatesHe reads.
Martinez and Davis Gates in 2019 reached a collective bargaining agreement that declared the schools would serve as sanctuaries. Ahead of the incoming Trump administration, the two entities specifically explained in the letter how they would support their commitment to “protecting the rights and safety of all students.”
Chicago Federation of Teachers Vice President Stacey Davis Gates speaks before a march to demand the removal of police officers from schools in Chicago, Illinois, US, June 24, 2020. (Reuters/Max Herrmann)
Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for “border czar,” recently pledged to crack down on the influx of migrants into Chicago. Homan wants to check the status of asylum seekers and arrest anyone who provides refuge to illegal immigrants. The incoming border czar also warned that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson would be prosecuted if he blocked the order ICE's mass deportation efforts.
When students are enrolled, the joint letter says, school staff are expected to make the process “as easy as possible” and “if families do not have a permanent address, staff should follow the Student in Temporary Living Situations (STLS) guidelines.” Which classifies students who do not live in permanent housing.
Staff are not permitted to inquire about the immigration status of a student or family member. Furthermore, they cannot retain information regarding the immigration status of a student or family member.
Chicagoans on Monday criticized Mayor Brandon Johnson for the city's spending when it comes to supporting immigrants. (city of chicago)
“Appropriate CPS employees will be trained on how to appropriately respond to ICE agents requesting entry onto school property, and proactive steps to assist students and families in obtaining assistance with their immigration case,” the letter said.
ICE is not allowed on school grounds under Chicago's Welcoming City Ordinance unless they present a warrant signed by a federal judge. Chicago's “Welcoming City” law, in compliance with the Illinois Trust Act of 2017, prohibits local law enforcement from engaging in federal immigration enforcement.
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Chicago has been facing a wave of immigrants over the past few years. Immigration has been a hot-button issue in the Windy City, with officials debating how and what methods to work with federal authorities. Funds were provided for shelters For the asylum-seeking population. On the other hand, residents criticized Mayor Johnson and the Chicago Newcomers Mission, which cost the entire city $500 million since its founding in 2022.
The Chicago City Council on Wednesday blocked a proposal that would allow local law enforcement to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement detain immigrants with a criminal record.
Chicago Public Schools says it has recovered some of the missing technology devices mentioned in the OIG report. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
The CTU praised the termination Of this measure, introduced by Ald. Ray Lopez and Ald. Silvana Tabiris. Maria Marino, the CTU's financial secretary, accused Lopez of trying to “endanger the city's immigrant communities, expose the city to legal liabilities, and cooperate with Trump in his mass deportation plans.”
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“Leaders show us who they are in difficult times for vulnerable communities,” Marino said.
Lopez and Tabares wanted to change the law to enable police to cooperate with ICE to target immigrants who was arrested For gang activities, drug-related activities, or sexual crimes involving minors. Their action received backlash from activist groups when They first introduced this measure in 2023.
