Minneapolis Public Schools affirm 'safe haven' for immigrants
MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - The Minneapolis Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to declare Minneapolis Public Schools a safe place for all students and families, regardless of their immigration status, national origin or language.
“It is not the role of the district as an educational organization to ask about the citizenship or immigration status of any of its students or families, or to enforce federal immigration laws,” the district said in a statement. “It has been the practice of the district to only provide information when required by law or a valid court order.”
The resolution reinforces MPS practices to ensure all students have equal access to learning and extracurricular opportunities, regardless of immigration status.
President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to “cancel all federal funding to sanctuary cities” in his first 100 days in office. Minneapolis has publicly reaffirmed its sanctuary city status to support its immigrant community.
A sanctuary city is a city that has adopted a policy or passed a resolution to protecting its undocumented immigrants by declining prosecution solely for violating federal immigration laws.
RESOLUTION REGARDING DISTRICT PRACTICES RELATED TO IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT
WHEREAS, Minneapolis Public Schools is committed to the success of every student in every MPS school, and that our mission is to enable students to reach their full potential and to prepare them for post-secondary careers, college and community life; and
WHEREAS, Minneapolis Public Schools is committed to the physical safety and emotional well-being of all students within its control, and is committed to ensuring that all schools and district facilities are welcoming and safe places for students and their families; and
WHEREAS, It is not the mission, purpose or role of the Minneapolis Public Schools to determine the citizenship or immigration status of any of its students or families, nor to enforce federal immigration laws; and
WHEREAS, Minneapolis Public Schools has adopted policies ensuring the provision of equal educational opportunities to all enrolled students, regardless of their immigration status, national origin, or language; and
WHEREAS, Minneapolis Public Schools believes that it is in the best interests of the students, staff, families and community of Minneapolis that it take action to assure all students and families that disruptions to the educational environment that Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions may create shall not be tolerated.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis Public Schools, shall adopt procedures and practices that assure the following:
That unless specifically required by law, District employees, contractors, volunteers and representatives will not use District resources solely for the purposes of detecting or assisting in the apprehension of persons whose only violation of law is or may be being an undocumented resident in the United States, or failing to produce documents authorizing residency in the United States.
That District employees, contractors, volunteers and representatives shall refrain from inquiring about a student’s or parent’s immigration status;
That District employees, contractors, volunteers and representatives shall refrain from requiring any student or parent to produce documentation regarding immigration status;
That District employees, contractors, volunteers and representatives shall not, unless compelled by a valid court order, by law or subsequent to receiving a signed release, disclose to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers any information about a student’s or family’s immigration status;
That District employees, contractors, volunteers and representatives shall require any ICE personnel wishing to enter any District property to first notify the Superintendent and District General Counsel in advance of such entry and provide proper written authority to enter District property, and
That District employees, contractors, volunteers and representatives shall refrain from referring students and parents with questions about their immigration status to ICE.
That District employees, contractors, volunteers and representatives shall continue to assure that all students have access to the learning and other educational services available at their schools, including rigorous courses, student extracurricular activities and athletics, and support services regardless of the student’s or family’s immigration status.