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How has the possibility for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enter sensitive areas such as schools affected the Kankakee County community?
“Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” one of dozens of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump during his first week in office, calls for the immediate removal of those in the United States without legal status.
The Jan. 20 order revoked the Biden administration’s policy that protected sensitive locations from immigration enforcement, including preschools, K-12 schools and higher education institutions as well as churches, health care facilities and other areas.
Local school districts with high Hispanic populations — including Kankakee and Momence — have quickly responded by explaining how they plan to protect students in the event of possible ICE involvement in their buildings.
FEARS AMONG HISPANIC COMMUNITY
Victor Nevarez, a Kankakee 5th Ward alderman, said the executive order has caused fear and anxiety for members of the Hispanic community.
“What I see is, people are scared to come out, even if they have legal status,” he said.
He noted the Hispanic community comprises much of the region’s labor force.
“We don’t want to say, ‘It’s OK to remove the bad people.’ How do we know they’re bad people?” Nevarez said.
Nevarez has heard from his constituents that some people are afraid to send their children to school.
He also operates a consulting business offering Spanish-language probation assistance to those convicted within the Kankakee County court system.
In his work, Nevarez has seen nervous individuals in his office.
People have been trying to get their legal status up to date.
Those with suspended licenses have been asking if it is safe to go into a Secretary of State facility.
“In reality, I don’t have those answers for them,” he said. “It’s hard. The community is frightened.”
Nevarez has been gathering phone numbers from the Mexican Consulate and other lawyers that can provide help and answers.
“We’re living in difficult times, and we’re gonna see changes,” he said. “It’s always best for everybody to be safe and just be aware of their rights.”
KANKAKEE SCHOOLS RESPOND
On Thursday, Kankakee School District 111 addressed a rumor that ICE officials had entered Kankakee High School that morning, stating on Facebook that the rumor was false.
“Please rest assured that we are committed to protecting our students,” the announcement read. “Our priority is to provide a safe and supportive environment for all of our students.”
Shortly after the executive order was issued, Kankakee Superintendent Teresa Lance issued a statement calling the removal of safe-area protections “alarming” and overviewing the district’s protocols.
Prior to the presidential inauguration, Lance met with high school students who had family members or close friends who were undocumented, she said.
“Without giving cause for angst, I gave the students my word that we would not allow ICE to enter our schools and remove our students,” Lance said in the statement. “To read the [president’s executive order] is heart wrenching!”
In District 111, principals have been notified that if an officer from ICE requests information and/or access to students, they are to contact the superintendent and the child’s parent or guardian immediately. Social workers and social-emotional learning coaches are also available to any student or family seeking support or resources.
Lance said the district would continue to follow state and federal laws pertaining to student records, meaning the district won’t disclose protected student information, including a student’s citizenship or immigration status, without prior authorization.
MOMENCE SCHOOLS RESPOND
Momence Community Unit School District 1 Superintendent Shannon Anderson issued a statement regarding the district’s procedures in response to the executive order.
He said the district has developed a comprehensive plan which provides education, information and a strategic response.
He added that the city of Momence and Momence Police Department were also committed to “safeguarding the rights and well-being of all students and community members.”
“With recent developments nationally, today I ask that you consider the emotional or mental anguish some of our students and colleagues may be facing as either a migrant or child of migrant parents,” Anderson said in the statement.
He explained that the school district would not turn children over to ICE; immigration officials cannot speak with or take any student without a signed warrant explicitly stating their name and any criminal acts they may have been charged with committing.
The district also won’t disseminate any information that could reveal a student’s citizenship or documented status, per the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act and the Illinois School Student Records Act.
Oraia Jamarillo, the district’s English language learners coordinator, said the district is focused on being a “safe haven” for all of its students, which includes about 13% English language learners and 30% Hispanic students.
“We want any student that comes into our district to feel that they can learn without fear of being here at school,” she said.
The district has created a Rapid Response Plan it will follow in the event of ICE involvement.
Families are being asked to make sure their emergency contact information is up to date with their child’s school and to list one or two local friends or family members who could pick up their child during an emergency.
The district is also forming an interpreter taskforce including students from Olivet Nazarene University and other volunteers who could assist Spanish-speaking families if a raid or separation were to take place.
Additionally, the district is working to provide mental health support and reassure students and families of its policies and guidelines.
The district’s bilingual parent advisory council will be discussing the Rapid Response Plan and local resources during its next quarterly meeting. Bilingual mental health professionals and the Momence Police Department will also take part in the meeting.
“At this time, we’re feeling very confident with the plan that we have in place if an event such as a raid were to occur within the school or in the community,” Jamarillo said. “We don’t anticipate anything like that happening.”