Philadelphia schools adopt ‘sanctuary’ policy to protect immigrant students, families
Immigration
by: CLAUDIA LAUER, Associated Press
Posted: Jun 25, 2021 / 06:49 PM CDT / Updated: Jun 25, 2021 / 07:09 PM CDT
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia school board unanimously voted to adopt a “welcoming sanctuary schools” resolution, promising more training for staff on how to respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials and assuring immigrant students and families they will be safe from immigration authorities while at school or school activities.
The vote Thursday comes after months of negotiations with Juntos, an immigrant rights advocacy group in South Philadelphia, that pushed the district to pass the resolution as the first step in a larger platform seeking language equity, improved cultural instruction and other educational justice reforms. Juntos officials called the resolution a promise to actively protect the rights of students instead of having a passive policy for interacting with immigration officials.
School Board Vice President Leticia Egea-Hinton said the resolution was a critical step in “making sure that all Philadelphia public schools are havens for immigrant students and their families.”
https://www.borderreport.com/hot-topics/immigration/philadelphia-schools-adopt-sanctuary-policy-to-protect-immigrant-students-families/