Gwinnett educators demand ICE cooperation halt over student safety fears
A local educators’ group in Gwinnett County, Georgia, has called for an immediate halt to cooperation between the sheriff’s office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In a strongly worded letter, the Gwinnett County Association of Educators demanded a moratorium to assess how ICE’s activities are affecting schools and the wider community. The group claims the agency’s presence is putting students and teachers at risk.
The association’s letter describes ICE’s operations as 'unconscionable in a civil society.' It argues that the agency’s actions are damaging students’ mental health and academic performance. According to the group, thousands of pupils have either dropped out or stopped attending classes since ICE activity increased in the area.
Gwinnett County’s school district is one of the most diverse in the state. Hispanic or Latino students make up 36.2% of the population, while 31.6% are Black, 14.5% white, 13.1% Asian or Pacific Islander, and 4.4% multiracial. The association warns that ICE’s enforcement efforts are creating fear among families and disrupting education. The sheriff’s office has previously stated that it must work with ICE when detainees are suspected of being undocumented immigrants. Despite this, educators are pushing for a review of the partnership, insisting that the current approach is harming the community.
The letter marks a growing tension between local educators and law enforcement over immigration policies. If the sheriff’s office agrees to the moratorium, it could lead to a reassessment of how ICE operates in the county. For now, the association’s demands highlight concerns about safety, attendance, and the broader impact on students’ lives.
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