Olympia students are afraid to come to school amid ICE actions, principal tells board
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- District leaders acknowledge student fear after national immigration enforcement activity.
- Administrators are considering giving students red cards outlining rights.
- Board to meet students and staff to develop outreach while avoiding undue attention.
Capital High School Principal Condee Wood said there are students in the Olympia district who are afraid to come to school in the wake of federal immigration enforcement activity around the country.
Her comment was in response to a question from Director Maria Flores during a Feb. 5 board of directors study session. Flores said right now, the world is a “complex and scary place for a lot of our students, particularly students of color and our LGBTQIA+ students.” She asked if there’s a sense of fear among these communities.
Wood said she wants to find ways to help students understand their rights if immigration enforcement were to come to Olympia schools.
She said Superintendent Patrick Murphy sends out communication every year regarding the school board’s policy on immigration enforcement. It states that ICE is not allowed to see students without proper documentation from a judge, which then has to be checked by the superintendent and the district attorneys.
Wood said this information is helpful, but not that helpful to students. At the same time, she doesn’t want to take any steps that would draw any unwanted attention to the district.
“The thing that’s difficult is wanting to widely educate our students, without drawing any attention to the fact that we want to widely educate our students, if that makes sense,” Wood said.
One idea that’s being considered is giving every student a red card, which is a front-to-back card that outlines your Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights.
According to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, a red card states:
- DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR if an immigration agent is knocking on the door.
- DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent.
- DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING without first speaking to a lawyer. You have the right to speak with a lawyer.
- If you are outside your home, ask the agent if you are free to leave and if they say yes, leave calmly.
- GIVE THIS CARD TO THE AGENT. If you are inside your home, show the card through the window or slide it under the door.
The other side of the card states:
- I do not wish to speak with you, answer your questions, or sign or hand you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution.
- I do not give you permission to enter my home based on my 4th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution unless you have a warrant to enter, signed by a judge or magistrate with my name on it that you slide under the door.
- I do not give you permission to search any of my belongings based on my 4th Amendment rights.
- I choose to exercise my constitutional rights. These cards are available to citizens and noncitizens alike.
“It’s been a very difficult, emotional, sensitive topic,” Wood said. “And I think we feel supported, because there’s a policy. We’re just trying to figure out how to inform our students without drawing attention to ourselves.”
Wood and Assistant Principal Jawanne Brown also suggested the board come and meet with students to brainstorm ideas.
“We’re trying to come together as a community, and it’s building this sense of ‘Capital Strong, this is our home, this is our house. We’re going to protect each other,’” she said.
Flores said she wanted to personally thank Wood and Brown for suggesting the red cards as a Latina on the board who carries a red card and all her paperwork at all times — even though she was born in Kansas. She said she does so because “that’s how the community feels right now.”
Wood said she would let the board know when meetings with students to brainstorm will be scheduled at a later date.
In an email to The Olympian on Feb. 13, Superintendent Patrick Murphy said district staff have heard from some families and community members that they’re afraid. And others have asked what the district’s policy and protocols are if OSD were to engage with immigration enforcement.
“To date, we have not had any federal immigration officials visit our district property,” he said. “If they did, as shared earlier, Olympia School District’s direction regarding immigration enforcement is outlined in OSD Policy 4300 and applies to all school facilities.”
According to that policy, OSD does not grant permission for any person engaging in, or intending to engage in, immigration enforcement to access “nonpublic areas of facilities, property, equipment, databases, or otherwise on school grounds or their immediate vicinity.”
Any federal immigration authorities wishing to conduct official business on school property will be directed to the principal or whoever is in charge of the facility. Authorities must also be able to produce a valid court order or warrant, which has to be vetted by the superintendent.
“We are committed to protecting the rights of all students, regardless of immigration status, and to ensuring our schools remain focused on learning, care and belonging,” Murphy said.
He shared a statement from board President Jess Tourtelotte Palumbo, who said recent national events prompted OSPI to resend guidance on state and federal protections for immigrant students.
“Likewise, our school district has sent information to staff and families reaffirming our commitment to maintaining safe, welcoming schools for every student and family,” she said. “We work hard everyday to ensure our schools remain safe places focused on learning, care, and belonging for all students, regardless of immigration status.”
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