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Our schools must continue to serve as safe havens for all students, regardless of immigration status.
We are the Wisconsin Association for Bilingual Education (WIABE), which is the largest organization in the state of Wisconsin that serves educators of emerging bilingual and multilingual students. At WIABE, we pledge to continue supporting and empowering educators, school administrators and families in advocating for, protecting and uplifting students from immigrant backgrounds, and working towards our vision of an educational future where all students’ languages and cultures are affirmed and every school’s systems and policies are inclusive and equitable.
WIABE is deeply concerned about the new Department of Homeland Security directives changing their policies around “sensitive” locations that could increase Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence near schools. WIABE believes that schools should remain safe spaces for learning, free from immigration enforcement. The policy could instill fear, harm student attendance, and reduce family engagement, ultimately impacting both students and educators. WIABE highlights that educators aim to support all students, regardless of immigration status, and need consistent attendance and family partnerships to succeed.
The 1982 Supreme Court case ruling Plyler v. Doe outlines that undocumented students have the unwavering right to a free public education. No public school has a basis to deny children access to education based on their immigration status. It is illegal for school district personnel to share information regarding the legal status of students with immigration officials. Additionally, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) ensures protections regarding children’s education records.
WIABE encourages school districts to create safe haven policies for undocumented students and families to ensure equitable and fair treatment of all students and families regardless of ethnicity, religion, cultural background, immigration status, and sexual orientation or identity. To support our communities at this challenging time, we have created a bank of resources on our website www.wiabe.net to support and advocate for immigrant students. If you would like us to include a resource, please contact us at correspondence@wiabe.net.
Together in education,
WIABE Board
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