PPS Board Chair: 'Students deserve right to feel safe'

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Next Monday, Donald Trump will once again be President of the United States. One of his oft-stated policies is mass deportation of immigrants.

That's why last week the Portland Public Schools unanimously passed Resolution 7030, their latest efforts to protect any undocumented students who may be in PPS classrooms.

"We know that the upcoming changes in immigration enforcement may lead to concern," board member Michelle DePass said.

Board Chair Eddie Wang said this resolution is similar to one put before the board after Trump won the 2016 election.

"There were, some families that were threatened. There were, some staff, too," Wang told KOIN 6 News on Monday. "And so this just kind of reaffirms that, but also takes into account things that we've learned in the last nine, eight years."

Resolution 7030 states the district won't disclose students' immigration status without the approval from parents or "appropriate legal authority."

"They're only allowed to go up to the front desk and not enter the school without a court-approved warrant," Wong said. "That's a very big, key part of the training."

The resolution also states the PPS staff don't have to help Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carry out federal immigration restrictions.

All of this was done with the hope of helping students feel a little safer.

"The staff leadership here are adamant about protecting all our students, no matter where you came from or who you are," he told KOIN 6 News. "All our students are precious and deserve the right to feel safe. And we'll do as much as we can to do that."