Holland Public Schools Superintendent Brian Davis is responding to backlash from civil rights advocates regarding his meeting with federal immigration authorities that resulted in controversial advice for school staff about potential deportations.
The Detroit News reported Davis told district staff March 3 that residents must open the door when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials knock, an idea civil rights groups discourage without a warrant.
Davis said earlier this week he asked ICE in the meeting to find out how schools might be involved in deportations. His meeting prompted a March 31 letter from two civil rights advocates warning the government and school officials across Michigan about the potential for schools to be influenced by President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement initiatives.
Friday, Davis issued the following statement:
“Understanding the technical legal issues around U.S. immigration is a challenging endeavor. This can be difficult and confusing for students and families that are impacted by immigration. This can also be true for schools, which are not directly involved but can be directly impacted. I apologize if any of the information I provided in recent days has been misinterpreted, or has been a misstatement on my part. I do not want to contribute to this confusion.
“The original public statement below still stands. An email which I sent to the staff of Holland Public Schools recently was intended to transmit information about immigration enforcement procedures that I had learned, and that was presented to me by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. My staff was aware of meetings I was participating in, and I wanted to strongly encourage my employees to avoid giving out legal advice to anyone facing the complex legal issue of immigration enforcement. Again, I am sorry if my email did not serve the purpose for which it was intended.
“Our role as educators is to provide a safe and nurturing school environment where all students can learn. Student safety while attending our schools has been and will continue to be a top priority for myself and my staff. I will continue to work with other champions for children in our community to achieve this goal. I appreciate the ongoing discussion and collaboration with leaders from the City of Holland Human Relations Commission and the Latin Americans United for Progress as we seek to learn and work together in this effort. We will continue to partner and collaborate with our community partners to support our students and families. I welcome the opportunity to partner with others who are willing to do so and have not already joined our collective effort.
“Below are additional resources that we have made available to families with the hope and intent that they are helpful to you.
- Immigration – Up to the Minute Community Resources from the City of Holland Human Relations Commission
- Preparing your Family for Immigration Enforcement in English
- Preparing your Family for Immigration Enforcement in Spanish
- Resource Guide for Supporting Undocumented Youth
- Persons who have questions about their legal status in the U.S., or if they know they are undocumented, should seek out a licensed immigration attorney. Persons seeking an attorney should be sure that their immigration counsel is licensed to practice law in the U.S. A list of attorneys who are licensed to practice law and have a specific interest in this area is at www.aila.org. How to respond to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who question, or attempt to enter the home, of a person of interest should be discussed with their attorney.
Thank you for allowing me and my staff to serve this community and your children.”
A 2010 U.S. Census report says about 23 percent of Holland’s residents are Hispanic or Latino.
Online: The Detroit News