Teachers and staff at Delta High School have come together to address the growing fears among students concerning the possibility of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the area. Students at DHS who are immigrants or children of immigrants are fearful of the new push to repatriate non-citizens, leaving many uncertain about the future of their families.
Roseann-Johnson, principal at DHS, clarified the rumors about the potential threat and explained how students are in a safe environment from potential raids.
“The Delta County School District does have policies to protect all of our students. Per the state of Colorado, it is unlawful for ICE to come to the school for any of our students. If an agency like this were to come to Delta High School, they would not be allowed to enter and I would contact the Sheriff’s Office and our District office to assist us in the removal of these agencies from our campus if that was necessary,” said Johnson.
Other nearby districts like Montrose have taken action and have come together to protest against the new executive orders against ICE to express their First Amendment rights. Multiple people from different communities have come together to speak out against the recent threat, showing their support for those affected by the executive orders. These protests are a way for people to raise awareness, share their concerns, and demand that their voices be heard. It’s become clear that these protests are more than just a reaction
Kimberly Ponce, graduate at DHS, explained why she felt eager to join the ongoing protests: “The main reason I went to the protest was to support my people and speak up for those who can’t. I was blessed to grow up in this culture and blessed to have the life I have due to them. So as a Hispanic citizen who has a voice and can use it, I will continue to use it to support my people. We are all human no matter what we look like or what language we speak. Why go through all this trouble to separate families that only wanted to live a better life. It’s unfair,” said Ponce.
As concerns grow around the rights of immigrant students, it’s necessary for families to know how their children can lawfully defend themselves against agencies like ICE. The school district of Delta has always highlighted the importance of safety, respect, and legal protection for every student. To ensure clarification and relief towards the migrant parents who are involved with DHS, Superintendent Caryn Gibson addressed these concerns directly to solve confusion in the community, as well as to reassure that students should feel safe at our local Delta County schools.
“Mrs. Gibson, our Superintendent, has issued a statement that we have shared with our families as they have asked for this information so that they can be informed of our stance on this matter. It is always our policy that no agency/person can remove any of our students without proper lawful authority. All students who reside in Delta County have the right to attend our public schools, and their immigration status is never questioned, nor do we require paperwork for registration that asks about immigration status. We want all students to feel safe and welcome, and know that they are protected by us and the law.” said Johnson.
