ORLANDO, Fla. — Without sharing her identity, an Orange County public school teacher speaks out. She’s voicing her concerns about the current procedures in place for possible visits of federal agents at schools to crack down on illegal immigration. “It’s not a space where students are going to feel safe and cared for if they can be removed just like that,” she said.
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The teacher says classrooms should be off limits, and students should be able to learn without thinking that federal agents could just walk in at any moment.
“The basis of learning is you have to have a space, a safe space you can’t get into, you know, critical thinking skills and knowing course content and, you know, doing math or whatever, unless you have that foundation of being in a safe space and knowing that you’re supported.”
Channel 9 obtained the memo detailing those procedures. It explains that school staff would request documentation from the law enforcement agent and that staff could be arrested if they intervened.
And if a student is charged, the school should notify the parent immediately. “It’s frightening,” said the teacher. “Not just for students who maybe are undocumented or immigrants or children of immigrants, but for everyone around them.”
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Federal agents are legally allowed to enter and make arrests or question any undocumented immigrant at any public location, including schools, hospitals, funeral homes and churches. “It seems to me that since the election, those are the people that are most concerned,” said David
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Stoller, an immigration attorney in Orlando. “If you’re questioning what, how is this going to affect me? How is this new administration going to deal with my situation? Go and talk to someone and get an idea down about what you can expect.”
Public schools do not ask for the immigration status of their students, per Florida Department of Education guidance. Channel 9 contacted every school district and public high school in our area.
Their responses are listed here.
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