Governor appoints Rapid Responce Team, Superintendents reassure families
January 30, 2025
By: Katherine Trowbridge
With the inauguration of our 47th President, came many policy changes. President Trump stated he would secure our border and carry out what could be the largest deportation operation in American history.
NPR’s Joel Rose reports, “From his first moments back in office, President Trump framed the problem of illegal immigration in terms of national security,” his article goes on to quote the president, stating, "I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country," Trump said in his inaugural address.
Rose goes on to state, “That word — invasion — has become mainstream on the right when talking about immigration, in spite of objections from immigrant advocates and some Democrats. They argue the term is dehumanizing and also deeply misleading, since border crossings have fallen sharply from their record highs during the Biden administration.”
Despite numerous orders signed by President Trump in regards to immigration policies, he continues to state that first and foremost, their goal is to extradite criminals who have entered our country illegally, posing a threat to our nation's and citizens' safety.
Since Trump took office, local people are reporting an increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers seen in our area. “They’ve come to the fields,” one person shared.
On Sunday, January 26, at the Fiesta Foods parking lot in Sunnyside, two people were detained by agents from a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE team, the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network reported.
People are afraid to go anywhere, and shared concerns for their children as well, when speaking with the Graphic.
The fear seems to lie in so many conversations and reports on the subject. However, the facts remain that the top priority is “national safety”, according to the Trump administration.
As Washington is a sanctuary state, newly elected Governor Bob Ferguson, is stepping up in support. However, some Republicans are speaking out. Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, noted on X that several days prior, two illegal aliens were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, one of them for raping a child.
“Will progressives in Olympia and Seattle complain about these arrests?” Walsh wrote. “I suspect they'll stay silent. If we dump WA's dumb ‘sanctuary state’ policy (made mostly by executive order), ICE agents can get into jails & prisons, focus their efforts on deporting more violent criminals.”
At an event hosted by OneAmerica at El Centro de la Raza on Friday, January 24, Ferguson signed Executive Order 25-04 directing the immediate creation of a Family Separation Rapid Response Team in the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF). The team will recommend policies and actions for addressing family separation and lasting effects on children and work with state and local law enforcement and other agencies. Feguson ordered the rapid response team to hold its first meeting by February 14.
The press release from the Governor’s office went on to state, “If implemented, mass deportation policies will significantly harm kids with undocumented parents. These children are often American citizens.”
“My office will do everything possible to address the harms caused by a mass deportation and detention program,” Governor Ferguson said. “That includes making sure kids who are torn away from their parents have someone to care for them and uninterrupted access to their education, regardless of their immigration status.”
Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal said in a January 23 news release that his office (Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction - OSPI) has fielded many questions and concerns from families, schools and lawmakers. “As we monitor the actions of the new federal administration, I want to be clear: Washington state is and will remain a state that is unequivocally committed to supporting all of our students and their families,” he said.
About 21,660, or 2%, of Washington state students are migrants, according to OSPI data. OSPI’s news release noted that public schools nationwide have moral and constitutional obligations to offer a quality free education to all students within district boundaries.
The North Franklin School District submitted a press release on Monday, January 27, sharing, “We understand that recent changes in immigration policies may be causing concern and anxiety for some of our families. We want to assure you that North Franklin School District remains a safe and welcoming place for all students, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.”
State Superintendent Reykdahl of OSPI has emphasized that schools have a legal and moral obligation to provide a quality education to all students within their boundaries. Both state and federal law prohibits discrimination based on national origin, color or race, the release says. In addition, state law bans discrimination related to immigration or citizenship status.
NFSD added, “We uphold these values and assure you that we protect student information. We also do not ask for or collect immigration status information from our families.”
NFSD Superintendent Brian Moore stated, “We encourage open communication and invite you to contact your school principal or counselor with any questions or concerns. We are here to support and educate all North Franklin students and families.”
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