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Students and parents urge UCPS to declare schools safe zones after Monroe High walkout
Summary
Speakers during public comment at the March 11 Union County Board of Education meeting pressed the district to bar U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from schools and asked UCPS to publicly declare schools 'safe zones' following a student walkout at Monroe High School.
Multiple speakers during the public‑comment period at the March 11 Union County Board of Education meeting urged the district to publicly commit that its schools are safe from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to ensure non‑cooperation with civil immigration enforcement.
David Portillo Delgado, speaking as a student of Monroe High School, described the March 5 student walkout and relayed three demands coming from participating students: that UCPS not allow ICE into UCPS schools, that the district issue a statement declaring UCPS schools safe zones from ICE, and that the U.S. government end mass deportations. "UCPS never allows ICE into UCPS schools," Delgado said, listing the students' demands and saying the district's lack of comment had left students fearing collaboration with ICE.
Ingrid Portillo, who identified herself as a parent, told the board that district policies and procedures regarding interactions with law enforcement and third parties are not adequately communicated to non‑English speakers. She said students at Monroe High had been approached and questioned by school resource officers both on and off campus, and that parents whose primary language is not English had not been fully informed of relevant protocols.
Parent and community speaker Jen Sanders criticized federal proposals she said could reduce funding for education and urged the board to continue advocating for teachers and student supports; she also referenced concern about programs described as "DEI" and said the district should work with the community to protect all 41,000 students in Union County.
Board members did not respond to public comments during the fifteen‑minute public comment block beyond noting the district will not respond during the meeting; the board's public comment rules posted by the chair specify the board will not hear complaints about employee performance or confidential student matters during the open session and that cabinet staff are available after the meeting for follow up.
Speakers requested that the district clarify written procedures and make information available in languages other than English and that the board consider a public statement about district cooperation with immigration enforcement.
