The People鈥檚 Commissioners Court wants Fort Worth ISD to create a policy prohibiting immigration officers鈥� access to school campuses.
During a meeting Tuesday, resident Sabrina Ball, who presented the proposal to community members, said students and families鈥� safety should be the priority at schools, .
鈥淲e want to make sure that our schools are safe spaces, particularly pick up and drop off,鈥� Ball said. 鈥淭hose are tough times already; we don't need ICE making things worse.鈥�
A proposed policy requests U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement officers not be allowed at a school site without permission from the district鈥檚 superintendent.
The proposal also asks for the superintendent not to allow 鈥渁ccess that disrupts the learning environment.鈥�
Among several things, the proposal also asks the superintendent to request a judicial warrant from any ICE agent looking for a student, as well as notify parents of the inquiry.
In 2017, the FWISD school board unanimously that established all schools as 鈥渨elcoming and safe鈥� and that all students are entitled to public education regardless of immigration status or their parent鈥檚 status.
鈥淸T]he Fort Worth Independent School District will strive to create the safest possible environments for its students and employees, providing them the foundation needed to learn, thrive, seek assistance and information, and reach each child's potential in an education-focused environment free of insecurity and fear, for all its employees, students, and their families, regardless of their immigration status,鈥� the policy read.
That proposal came from fears of increased deportations during President Donald Trump鈥檚 . But community members say that district policy is too vague for present-day needs, and that families need a more detailed policy addressing 鈥漰otential disruption鈥� by ICE officers.
鈥淚n Tarrant County, we're always talking about law and order,鈥� Ball said. 鈥淲e do not have to do what is happening in Minnesota. We can set a standard here and there's no reason for ICE to come on to our campuses and cause a panic.鈥�
Concerns come amid rising tensions with ICE officers and people protesting across the country. Two people were killed and a third person was shot in the by ICE officers this month from communities and government officials.
A 5-year-old boy in Minnesota was also while coming home from preschool, along with his father. Both were taken to a detention center near San Antonio.
The People's Commissioners Court launched last year in response to Tarrant County Commissioners changing their meeting schedule to once a month.
Tarrant County community members hope to bring their concerns at FWISD鈥檚 next board meeting on Feb. 24. The school district was last year due to years of repeated low student performance at a campus in the district that has since closed.
Penelope Rivera is 四虎影院鈥檚 Tarrant County Accountability Reporter. Got a tip? Email Penelope Rivera at privera@kera.org.
