Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) released a joint letter Thursday confirming that they are a “safe haven” for “all students, parents, employees and members of the school community for school-related matters.”
“We know that many of our students, families and staff have expressed concerns and concerns about the impact that the new presidential administration will have on CPS. All stakeholders in the school community can be confident that our schools will continue to be safe learning environments that promote respect, love and tolerance,” a letter written by CPS Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez and CTU President Stacy Davis Gatesreads
In 2019, Martinez and Davis Gates reached a collective bargaining agreement that stated the schools would be sanctuaries. Ahead of the new Trump administration, the two entities specifically stated in the letter that they will maintain their commitment to “protecting the rights and safety of all students.”
Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Stacy Davis Gates speaks before a march demanding police officers be removed from schools in Chicago, Illinois, US, June 24, 2020. (REUTERS/Max Herman)
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Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump’s handpicked “border czar,” recently vowed to stem the flow of migrants into Chicago. Homan wants to verify the status of asylum seekers and arrest anyone who harbors illegal immigrants. The new border czar also warned that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson would be prosecuted if he obstructed ICE’s Mass Deportation Efforts.
When students register, the joint letter states, school staff are expected to make the process “as smooth as possible” and “if families do not have a permanent address, staff should follow the (STLS) guidelines for students in temporary living situations,” which classifies students who do not live in permanent accommodation.
Staff are not permitted to inquire about the immigration status of a student or family member. Furthermore, they cannot retain information about the immigration status of a student or their family member.
Chicagoans on Monday criticized Mayor Brandon Johnson over the city’s spending on migrant aid. (City of Chicago)
“Appropriate CPS personnel will be trained on how to appropriately respond to ICE agents seeking entry onto school property, and on proactive steps to assist students and families in obtaining immigration assistance,” the letter said.
ICE is not allowed to enter school grounds due to Chicago’s welcoming ordinance unless they have a warrant signed by a federal judge. Chicago’s “welcoming city” ordinance, under the Illinois Foundation Act of 2017, prohibits local police from participating in federal immigration enforcement.
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Chicago has been struggling with a wave of migrants for the past few years. Immigration was a heated issue in the Windy City as officials debated how to work with federal authorities and appropriate provided funds for shelters for the population seeking asylum. On the other hand, residents criticized Mayor Johnson and Chicago’s New Arrivals Mission, which cost the city money 500 million dollars since it was founded in 2022.
The Chicago City Council on Wednesday blocked a proposal that would have allowed local police to assist ICE in detaining migrants with criminal records.
Chicago Public Schools says it has recovered some of the lost tech devices listed in the OIG report. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
CTU applauded the termination measure, introduced by Ald. Ray Lopez and Ald. Silvana Taberes. CTU Financial Secretary Maria Mareno accused Lopez of trying to “endanger the city’s immigrant communities, expose the city to legal liability and cooperate with Trump in his plans for mass deportation.”
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“Leaders show us who they are in difficult times for vulnerable communities,” Mareno said.
Lopez and Tabares wanted to change the ordinance to allow police to cooperate with ICE in targeting migrants who was arrested for gang or drug-related activities or sex crimes involving minors. Their measure was met with a reaction from activist groups when it the measure was introduced for the first time in 2023.
