President Donald Trump’s immigration policies have sparked outrage from an unlikely source – Texas. This week, The Dallas Independent School District passed a resolution stating that its schools would be “welcoming and protective” of all students, regardless of their immigration status. The message was said to be a response to the fear expressed by many students and faculty members.
Samuel High School teacher Erika Machuca spoke to the school board about a recent conversation with one of her students:
“He said to me at the beginning of class after the bell rang, ‘Miss, if you don’t see me here at school one day, it’s because I was sent back to Mexico.’ It broke my heart to hear this and, frankly, surprised me.”
Students from the DISD have been very vocal about Trump’s immigration policies since he took office last month. They showed up in droves to protest the travel ban and many of them participated in the “Day without Immigrants” strike.
Local student Katelyn Perez voiced her concerns at the board meeting, saying:
“I came to the United States when I was 1. I have never felt fear until now. I have lived here for 18 years, and now I don’t feel like I belong. I want the American dream. I want freedom and peace for every immigrant. I don’t want to live in fear. I want to belong.”
The resolution had a few opponents, who questioned whether the proper channels were being taken to pass it. Board officials decided unanimously that the need to protect and reassure their students was urgent enough to outweigh those concerns.ssThe DISD is not the only group to speak out against Trump’s immigration policies. Many organizations have protested the administration’s plans to deport thousands of immigrants, from cab drivers to museums. It’s clear that this is no longer just a political disagreement, but a human rights issue that stands to affect thousands of people in America.
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