Española Public School Board to vote on resolution reaffirming district as sanctuary for immigrant students and their families

By Somos Un Pueblo Unido 

ESPAÑOLA, NM: Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 24th the Española Public School Board will vote on a proposed resolution that would reaffirm the district as a sanctuary for all students, including immigrant students and their families.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has ramped up detentions and deportations across the country, including here in New Mexico. The recent increase in immigration enforcement activity in Rio Arriba County has resulted in the separation of families and is directly impacting the emotional, physical and financial well-being of students in the district.

And with the current status of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) and failure by Congress to pass a clean DREAM Act, many school districts are moving to declare themselves sanctuaries.

According to the U.S. Census, 5% of Rio Arriba’s county population and 11% of Española is foreign born, and a study by the Hispanic Research Center shows that 10% of K-12 students in New Mexico have at least one undocumented parent.

The proposed resolution would declare all Española public schools as sanctuary schools, further protect student’s sensitive information, instruct district staff to refrain from collaborating with ICE, prevent federal immigration enforcement agents from accessing schools and create new programs aimed at training staff and supporting students.

It would also create an intergovernmental working group with the Northern New Mexico College, the City of Española and Rio Arriba County to coordinate sanctuary policies.

What: Española Public School Board to vote on resolution affirming the district as a sanctuary for all students, including immigrant students and their families.

When: Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 24th at 5:30 p.m.

Where: Carlos F. Vigil Middle School auditorium, 1260 Industrial Park Road, Española, NM, 87532