Malden candidates say schools must protect students amid federal immigration enforcement
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Summary
Two school committee candidates told a local podcast that Malden Public Schools should prioritize safety for students and strengthen community ties to help families affected by federal immigration enforcement. One candidate urged revisiting the district—s 2019 Safe School Zones resolution.
Ward 6 school committee candidate Peter Piazza and a school committee member whose name was not provided told a local candidate podcast that Malden Public Schools should be a first line of protection for students and families affected by federal immigration enforcement.
Piazza said the response should be "multifaceted" and stressed building local community ties so neighbors can quickly identify and support people targeted by immigration authorities. "If you know your neighbors, then you can help your neighbors," he said, describing incidents in Somerville and Milford where community identification and rallies helped families secure a detainee—s release.
Piazza urged the district and school committee to revisit a Safe School Zones resolution passed in 2019, saying it may need "some teeth or some details" to guide school leaders in responding to current enforcement risks.
A separate guest on the podcast said the first priority is to ensure students are safe when they "walk through our doors." The guest said, "We are a family at Malden Public Schools, and they are safe when they are in our care. They are not going to be ripped out of their seats while they're in class." That speaker added the district must follow applicable government rules while making clear it will protect students in its custody.
Neither speaker described specific new board policies or enforcement mechanisms that were adopted during the recording. Piazza framed much of his proposal around community organizing and updating guidance for school leaders rather than unilateral action by a single school committee member.
The exchange included examples from elsewhere in Massachusetts and references to federal immigration enforcement actions but did not claim any specific change in Malden—s enforcement environment.
Ending: Both guests framed the district—s role as protective and said the school system should use updated guidance and stronger community ties to reduce the risk to students and families.