As of September, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) staged operations at the Naval Station Great Lakes, near the community of Waukegan. These operations have raised the attention of students, families and staff all across District 128. They were all presented in parts of President Donald Trump’s federal campaign of targeted immigration enforcement and arrests.
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The Mayor of Waukegan stated in a September statement that the staging activity was federal and not local, urging residents to stay informed and understand their rights. At LHS, administrators and staff are working to reassure students and families of their safety and provide information about their rights.
The D128 Board of Education creates the D128 policies, which are universal and abide by the law, whether it’s about ICE or police. They are created with the safety and security staff, and are made up of guidelines for who has access to D128 campuses and under what circumstances people can come in.
The priority of the district is the education of students, and safety and security are primary objectives. The district cares about the students and their success.
“We will continue to promote safety, and we will continue to provide great educational experiences,” Superintendent Dr. Marc Schaffer said. “We recognize that this is a difficult time for some within our community, [and] things that might be seen on the news, or within our broader community. So we’re sensitive to that. We want to make sure that we support students’ needs.”
In terms of Chicago, ICE operations have increased as a result of the federal operations. Activists and residents are raising their voices. As of early October, more than 1,000 immigrants have been arrested since the operations began in Chicago. Immigrants with legal status and children are among these numbers.
(Photo courtesy: Live and Let’s Fly).
Advocacy groups in Chicago, such as the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), have expressed concern about the operations and the fear being created among communities. The NIJC, along with other organizations and immigrant support groups, is encouraging individuals to know their rights, as all individuals have rights regardless of their immigration status, the National Immigrant Justice Center states. The NIJC recommended creating a safety plan with any emergency contacts identified. All people in the United States are entitled to defend their rights and the right to remain silent when questioned or arrested by immigration officers. It’s important to stay calm and not open the door if an officer knocks. Officers must have a warrant signed by a judge to enter. The Third Amendment also states that the owners have protection against the quartering of soldiers in private homes.
As the federal operations continue in the region and across the United States, the district says that they will continue to provide education with the safety and security of students and staff in mind. The district is here to support students and families, and families are encouraged to reach out to LSTs and staff for any support or questions.
