The Harrisonburg School Board recently reinforced its “unwavering support” for immigrant families in the city. In a statement, the board said it condemns immigration enforcement action that targets or intimidates students within the community and interferes with students’ access to education.
“In the past, the board has worked quietly to support families through established policies and practices” the board wrote in a statement. “However, recent actions and an increased presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have heightened fear and uncertainty within our community, prompting the board to speak publicly at this time.
“You belong here. Your children belong here. We are grateful for the trust you place in our schools, and we stand with you,” the board wrote.
In light of the actions of neighboring Harrisonburg, Staunton resident Deborah Kushner is asking Staunton City Council where they stand on ICE enforcement urging members to speak out.
“With the recent murders in Minneapolis, the continued escalation of violence against citizens and non-citizens and the suspicion of ICE sightings in our area, Staunton City Council’s stance of hoping it all just blows over is insufficient,” Kushner said in an email to Council members.
“The wolves are circling. Our country is at a turning point.”
“People in our local neighborhoods are organizing. The adage ‘only the people can save the people’ is becoming more of a reality with each passing day,” she wrote.
Kushner sent the email to Staunton City Council members at noon today. She has not received a response from anyone more than six hours later.
Kushner applauded Harrisonburg for its recent statement calling the action by its school board “clear leadership.”
The statement was sent under Harrisonburg City Public Schools letterhead and was released in seven languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, Kurdish, Russian, Swahili and Tigrinya.
The board wrote that it condemns immigration activities “that create fear, disrupt family stability and undermine students’ ability to learn and strive.”
Actions, it said, that cause students to fear for the safety of their families and friends “are fundamentally counter to the mission of public education.”
Many immigrant families are scared to leave their homes for work and afraid to send their kids to school because of local ICE activity and the actions in other cities in the nation. Local community groups have organized to deliver food and supplies to families who fear for their safety and are scared to even go the supermarket.
“As a public school, it is our charge to educate everyone. We condemn practices that separate families or create conditions in which students feel unsafe to come to school or to access essential services. HCPS remains committed to protecting student privacy, following the law and ensuring that our schools are safe spaces for all children.
“We will continue to work closely with school staff, family liaisons and community partners to provide support, resources and clear communication to families, while prioritizing their safety and well-being.”
Population breakdown
The City of Harrisonburg has a growing Hispanic population, according to U.S. Census records which show the city of 51,164 residents is 23 percent Hispanic, 14.5 percent are two or more races, 7.6 percent are Black and 3 percent are Asian. Sixty-six percent of the population is White.
The City of Staunton has 26,361 residents. According to Census data, 11 percent of its population is Black and 12 percent combined are other minority groups including Hispanic, Latino, Asian and others. Approximately 80 percent of the population is White.
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