Colorado school district sues Trump admin over fears of ICE raids on campuses
Denver Public Schools, the largest public school district in Colorado, has made headlines by becoming the first in America to sue the Trump administration over concerns of ICE raids taking place on school grounds. The district filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for their decision to remove a policy that designated schools, along with other sensitive locations like churches, as off-limits for immigration enforcement. This policy was originally put in place in 2011 under former President Barack Obama.
The lawsuit argues that rescinding this policy has forced schools to divert time and resources towards teaching students and staff how to stay safe from immigration enforcement. According to The Associated Press, the lawsuit states, “DPS is hindered in fulfilling its mission of providing education and life services to the students who are refraining from attending DPS schools for fear of immigration enforcement actions occurring on DPS school grounds.” The school system has also reported a significant decline in attendance since the policy was lifted.
President Donald Trump, fulfilling his campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigration, revoked the ICE-restricting policy shortly after taking office. Since then, ICE has been actively arresting and deporting thousands of individuals who are in the U.S. illegally, with a focus on targeting criminals with convictions in the U.S. or their home countries. Trump’s Border Czar, Tom Homan, has been leading these efforts and has emphasized that ICE is prioritizing going after “the worst, first.”
The goal of the lawsuit is to urge the Trump administration to reinstate the policy that bans immigration enforcement activities from taking place at schools, even though no ICE raids have occurred on school grounds. Denver Public Schools has taken proactive measures by training staff on how to handle ICE officers if they were to show up at the school, instructing them to deny entry unless the agents have a warrant signed by a judge.
The lawsuit also highlighted that during the 2023-2024 school year, there were over 90,000 students in the Denver Public Schools system, with approximately 4,000 being immigrants. The city of Denver has experienced a significant increase in population in recent years, with nearly 43,000 individuals arriving from the southern border, as stated in the lawsuit.
In conclusion, Denver Public Schools’ lawsuit against the Trump administration sheds light on the ongoing debate surrounding immigration enforcement in sensitive locations like schools. By taking legal action, the district aims to protect its students and ensure a safe learning environment for all.
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