Decorah School District issues guidance regarding immigration and customs

By Roz Weis,

In a letter to families early this week, Decorah Community School Superintendent Tim Cronin shared policies the school has in place regarding immigration and customs enforcement. The letter came less than two weeks after federal officials rescinded guidelines which had prevented personnel with Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Customs and Boarder Protection from conducting enforcement actions in what was referred to as sensitive areas.

“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” acting U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman said in a Jan. 21 statement. “The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”

U.S. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated during a Jan. 29 press briefing that ICE would prioritize deportation of individuals who have committed significant crimes, but she said “that doesn’t mean that the other illegal criminals who entered our nation’s borders are off the table.”

Cronin stressed the district’s recent letter to families was not in response to any specific local happening. He said the district’s aim is simply to share facts regarding current law. 

“I think people are just aware that things are going on…It’s on everybody’s radar,” Cronin said.

The superintendent said the law firm of Ahlers & Cooney, which provides legal services and guidance to Iowa school districts, recently provided the school with guidance on the topic. 

Cronin, who has been in school administration for 30 years, said he has seen many changes in school enrollment requirements, so he had reached out to local law enforcement in preparing the district’s guidance and subsequent parent letter.

Full article available in the February 6 Decorah Leader.

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