The Oregon Education Association (OEA), the largest teachers’ union in the state, is set to conduct a series of trainings aimed at equipping school staff, families, and community members with the knowledge to protect students amid increasing federal immigration enforcement actions near schools. The union announced on Wednesday that it will host three “anti-ICE” trainings in Bend, Eugene, and Oregon City from March 15 to March 17, 2024, in collaboration with the Washington D.C.-based League of United Latin American Citizens and the Oregon for All Network.
The initiative follows a surge in operations conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that have targeted areas around schools, particularly during student pickup and drop-off times. These actions have raised considerable concern among educators and parents alike. In a notable incident on November 21, 2023, a 17-year-old McMinnville student, who is a U.S. citizen, was arrested by ICE officers during lunch. The officers reportedly smashed the student’s car window to detain him, an event that shocked the local community.
In January, former President Donald Trump rescinded federal guidance that restricted ICE and Customs and Border Protection from conducting enforcement actions in “protected areas” such as schools and playgrounds. This change has prompted widespread anxiety, particularly as more than a dozen school districts in Oregon experienced ICE raids and arrests in November, often involving officers who did not display official identification.
As a sanctuary state, Oregon law prohibits public agencies, including school districts, from participating in immigration enforcement. School officials are not required to allow immigration agents onto school property without a judicial warrant. The upcoming trainings, each lasting three to four hours, will cover essential topics such as how to respond to ICE operations, the legal rights of students and families, and available resources for those affected by immigration enforcement.
Enrique Farrera, the newly elected president of the OEA, emphasized the need for these trainings, stating that many members have expressed a desire for greater support in safeguarding their students. He noted the significant emotional impact on students when peers are detained or deported, saying, “What we’re finding is that you might remove a student who has been deported or detained; their friends are starting to ask, ‘Well, where’s my friend?’ It’s starting to impact the learning conditions for all the students.”
Farrera, who assumed the presidency in July 2023, is a Mexican immigrant and U.S. citizen. He gained citizenship through a pathway established under former President George W. Bush for non-citizens who served in the military following the September 11, 2001, attacks. Having spent much of his life in California and Oregon without permanent legal status, he understands firsthand the fears faced by immigrant families.
“There are many people like me who have been fearful for most of their lives of speaking up because we become a target, or your professional career becomes ruined,” Farrera remarked. “We have lived under these circumstances for quite some time, but this has become more of a police state. This is becoming an era of an American democracy that’s under threat.”
The OEA expects around 600 teachers, school staff, and community members to participate in the trainings over the weekend. The sessions aim to empower participants with strategies to create safety and contingency plans for families potentially facing deportation, as well as to address how current immigration policies impact student attendance and well-being.
As these trainings unfold, the OEA hopes to foster a stronger sense of community support and resilience among families affected by immigration enforcement. The initiative underscores a growing movement within education systems to advocate for the rights and safety of all students, regardless of their immigration status.
