Increased encouragement in New York City for students to stay in education as Trump policies target undocumented families
In the heart of Downtown Manhattan, a rally was held this week, organized by a coalition of advocacy groups, labor unions, and grassroots organisations. The event, aimed at undocumented students and their families, took place ahead of the new school year, which begins next week.
The rally was a response to the increased immigration arrests under the Trump administration, with a goal of making 3,000 arrests daily across the country. However, according to the Department of Education, no ICE officers have attempted to enter local public school buildings.
Rita Rodriguez-Engberg, director of the Immigrant Students' Rights Project at the nonprofit Advocates for Children, was amongst the speakers at the rally. She emphasised the rights of parents of non-English-speaking learners, stating that they have the right to have school documents translated and to have interpreters in meetings with teachers.
Rodriguez-Engberg also encouraged parents not to feel like a burden to the school and not to be afraid to go to their schools to ask for help. She reinforced the importance of children's right to receive instruction to learn English.
The Department of Education has trained thousands of school staff members on the proper protocol to follow when ICE officers appear at a school. In the rare instances where a child has been detained by ICE, the Department has connected families with legal help and other resources.
Under New York state law, all state residents have the right to attend public school between the ages of 5 and 21. The Schools Chancellor of New York City, Melissa Aviles-Ramos, has stated that the city's public schools stand with all families, regardless of background and immigration status. According to Aviles-Ramos, New York City Public Schools are safe and welcoming places for children.
For families with questions about their children's education, Advocates for Children offers an assistance hotline at 866-427-6033, available from Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The rally was part of a broader movement to ensure that every child, regardless of their immigration status, has access to quality education. The Schools Our Students Deserve Coalition, several labor unions like Laborers Local 1095, CWA Local 6143, AFSCME Local 2021, and Electrical Workers Local 60, were amongst the groups that participated in the event.
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