Search


	Podcast:		Maine Things Considered
	Episode:		Portland Public Schools Say They Will Not Report Students To Immigration Enforcement
	Category:		Government & Organizations
	Duration:		00:00:37
	Publish Date:		2018-05-26 14:08:49
	Description:		Officials from Portland Public Schools are telling the community that they will not report students to immigration enforcement officials, and say their schools are a "safe haven" for children and families. In a written message to families last week, Portland Supt. Xavier Botana said, "We want your children in our schools. We don't care what their immigration status is. And we believe that that's not just the right thing to do, but that's also the law." That message, comes in response to comments made last week by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy Devos . DeVos told a congressional committee last week that she felt schools could decide whether to report undocumented students to federal agencies. Botana says the district believes those comments go against the constitution and long-standing Supreme Court rulings, which say that public schools cannot deny education based on immigration status. "Legally, that's the way that it has to be," Botana says. "But also, if there's any doubt, and if it
	Total Play:		0