View the Spring 2025 Forum at DePaul University: Immigration Policies Impacting Our Schools and Students featuring our own Rachel Esposito as a panelist!
The current administration’s immigration policies are already having a large impact on our students, their families, and communities. The demonization of immigrants was central to Trump’s election campaign and continues. He promises to carry out the largest deportation program in our history and is trying to end birthright citizenship. Educators and students are concerned about the safety of their families and communities. They have already seen fear and confusion in immigrant communities, increased student absences and both socio-emotional and intellectual setbacks for students. What does this mean for educators and their students? Our forum will look at what these policies are and how the rescission of schools as protected areas is creating increased worry in immigrant communities. And, most importantly, what can be done. Among other issues, the panel will discuss: • What are the current policies impacting schools? • What are students’ rights under current law? • Putting protections in place that limit immigration enforcement at schools. • How can educators create safe zones in their school, including steps to create a sanctuary committee? • What can schools do to inform parents and the community of their rights? • How are teachers helping students cope with the uncertain environment? The panel includes:
- Lubna Alam, Staff Counsel in the Office of General Counsel, The National Education Association
- Rachel Esposito, Former middle school teacher in Cicero district 99, Field Service Director for the Illinois Federation of Teachers serving the West Suburban Teacher Union
- Gabriel Paez, Bilingual language arts middle school teacher, Chicago
Dr. Sonia Soltero, DePaul College of Education moderated the forum.