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Speakers urge Wentzville R‑IV trustees to avoid immigration‑status inquiries and protect all students’ education
Summary
Two public commenters told the board that immigration status is a regulatory, not criminal matter, and urged trustees to focus on protecting every student’s right to education and avoid policies that would target undocumented children.
WENTZVILLE, Mo. — During the public comment period June 18, community members urged the Wentzville R‑IV School District board to avoid actions that would target students by immigration status and to protect services relied upon by many students.
Maggie Biesenthal, a former immigration attorney, told trustees that being present in the United States without authorization is a regulatory violation, not a criminal offense, and reminded the board that children do not choose where they live and have an internationally recognized right to education. She asked trustees to focus on policies that protect and enrich education for every WSD student regardless of background.
Another public speaker, Katie Hubbard, urged the district to protect students amid budget and program cuts she tied broadly to policy changes at the federal level. She said cuts to early childhood programs, SNAP, Medicaid and mental‑health services have real effects on student outcomes and said staff and administrators must be trained to protect students. Hubbard also expressed concern about questions raised in the district about birth certificates and immigration status and asked whether staff are properly prepared to respond to enforcement encounters.
Board members did not take action during public comment but acknowledged the speakers and later discussed related district policies during the meeting.
