It’s described as the largest immigration raid in U.S. history Monday at a meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa–nearly 400 people arrested. EdWeek’s Mary Ann Zehr files a strong piece on the raid’s impact on the local school.
“All of the Latinos [from the school district] were impacted,” said David Strudthoff, the superintendent of the 600-student Postville Community School District. “About 220 students in the Postville school system are from immigrant families, he said, and many children were separated from parents or siblings employed at the plant.
“Mr. Strudthoff is also pondering the fact that more than a month ago, his district was served with a subpoena from the Iowa Division of Labor Services to provide detailed personal information about Postville students and some school employees,” EdWeek reports.
Zehr notes undocumented students have the right to a free public education, and school employees aren’t permitted to ask students about their immigration status.
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
There’s one word missing from this phrase, “About 220 students in the Postville school system are from immigrant families, he said, and many children were separated from parents or siblings employed at the plant.” You guessed it, illegal. This is a perfect example of what passes for journalism or what is called journalism. If siblings and parents were held, one can reasonably assume they were, wait for it, illegally in the country. But we certainly aren’t able to determine that from this reporting.
Ok, this is cold, but we all make decisions in life and these folks made a decision to enter the country thru the back door and they are the ones who put there children and siblings at risk for separation. Respect the sovereignty of our nation and you are welcome. Don’t respect it, live with the consequences. No different than say, robbing a bank, and going to the bank for a loan. Get caught at the first, and it’s off to the slammer. If you came here thru the back door, you are stealing from all of us.
For those of you who fell otherwise, don’t try to heap the guilt on those of us who respect and live by the rule of law, you know that basic concept found in that 200 year old document we strive to live by. If you feel illegal’s belong here, let them sleep in your bedroom and take the food from you pantry.
Cheers!
Apropos of respecting and living by the law: In 1982, Plyler v. Doe, the U.S. Supreme Court of the United States struck down a state statute denying funding for education to children who were illegal immigrants.
So unless I’m mistaken, the legal status of the Postville Kids’ parents has no bearing on their right to a public education. That’s also part of living by the rule of law.