Fake news inspires Chicago Public Schools to refuse cooperation with ICE agents

Chicago public school officials won't be cooperating with immigration officials anytime soon. The nation's third largest school district has issued a letter to its principals directing them to refuse cooperation with ICE officials except under certain circumstances.

Chicago Public Schools says schools must be safe places for kids.

Highlights

By Marshall Connolly (CALIFORNIA NETWORK)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
2/23/2017 (7 years ago)

Published in Politics & Policy

Keywords: illegal immigration, Chicago, enforcement, schools

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- Chicago Public Schools has issued a directive to its principals, asking them not to cooperate with ICE agents. Federal immigration agents will be asked to "wait outside" the school unless they are serving a criminal warrant.

The reaction comes as the media hypes Trump's enforcement of existing immigration laws. President Trump has signed no new laws on immigration, so the laws he is enforcing existed during Obama's presidency. Many of those laws were also implemented during Obama's presidency, drawing the ire of many advocacy groups.

Under Obama, immigration enforcement raids and deportations took place, but they were never advertised. Now, the media is making it appear as though mass deportations have suddenly begun.

Responding to the fake news, Chicago Public Schools and other entities are drafting policies pledging non-cooperation with federal authorities.

Several cities have declared themselves to be sanctuary cities, banning their employees from cooperating with federal officials.

In their letter, Chicago Public School officials have stated that schools should be a safe and welcoming environment where children can learn. This statement is surely met with universal agreement. The letter also asks that if a student is stranded because their parent has been detained, the school should use their emergency contacts to find the child a way home. But this is public theater; such cases would be rate to non-existent.

Immigration officials are not deporting anyone and everyone they can, but are focused instead on criminal aliens.

It must be restated again and again that nobody has the right to enter another sovereign country without permission. Not even Vatican City. Despite the fact that millions of people live in the U.S. illegally, the Trump administration is willing to study a path to citizenship for these people, which itself is an act of merciful compassion.

It is important that anyone present in the country illegally take immediate steps to begin the path to citizenship. Immigrants are welcome, but please use the front door, not the window.