After summer ICE detentions of NYC students, chancellor insists schools are safe

Gothamist | As President Trump’s ramped-up immigration enforcement against students this summer sparks back-to-school anxiety, New York City’s schools chancellor made an emotional appeal to parents on Wednesday: Please send your children to school.
During a rare appearance at the New York Immigration Coalition’s annual “Know Your Rights” press conference, held just more than a week before the first day of classes, Melissa Aviles-Ramos tried to reassure immigrant families alarmed by ICE detentions while promoting resources available to those at risk of deportation.
On top of deportation fears, advocates raised concerns about the quality of instruction that immigrant students receive. Most recently, the Trump administration revoked 40 pages of federal guidance on students who do not speak English fluently. While the move did not appear to change the law, it may impact how strictly it is enforced.
Rita Rodriguez-Engberg, who leads work on immigrant education for the legal and advocacy group Advocates for Children, reminded parents of their rights to an appropriate education for their children.
“We want to make sure that parents do not feel like they’re a burden to the school,” Rodriguez-Engberg said. “We don’t want them to be afraid to go to their school to ask for help: This is what we have been hearing from our newcomer families.”
“Please don’t be afraid, because you all have rights,” she added. “They are federal rights and we want to make sure that your children are able to participate in school, and make progress every year, as the law says they’re entitled to do.”