A teacher in Baltimore County Public Schools has been suspended following allegations of posting on social media that he was prepared to aid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in singling out Hispanic students. This concerning incident has raised serious questions about the teacher’s intentions and the impact it could have on the affected students.
The Baltimore County Public Schools superintendent and the Maryland state Department of Education were contacted by Newsweek for further comment.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump’s successful 2024 presidential campaign heavily relied on immigration as a crucial component.
There are growing concerns over immigration enforcement, particularly its impact on students, as tensions rise following the Trump administration’s decision to allow ICE raids in “sensitive locations” such as schools. This has sparked fears about the safety of students. Recently, an alleged incident in Maryland has further heightened these concerns.
According to a recent survey conducted by the New York Times and Ipsos from January 2nd to 10th, it was discovered that 55 percent of voters support President Trump’s mass deportation plan. Furthermore, an overwhelming 88 percent of respondents also expressed their support for deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records. This survey reveals that a majority of both Democrats and Republicans agree on one thing – the immigration system is in dire need of repair.
What To Know
In a letter addressed to parents, Baltimore County Public Schools has stated that it is currently conducting an investigation into concerning social media comments reportedly made by a teacher from Overlea High School.
According to reports, the teacher allegedly tagged ICE’s account on X, formerly known as Twitter, and provided the names of students for investigation. The students were labeled as either undocumented or children of undocumented immigrants.
On February 3, a post was shared that said: “I was just given a list of students who are legally allowed to skip today in support of undocumented immigrants, as most of them are undocumented. Should I contact ICE or let it go?”
A group of students at Overlea High School took to the halls in protest following a social media post that targeted nearly 50 Hispanic students. These students had been granted permission to be absent from school earlier in the week to advocate for immigrant justice.
In a subsequent post on X, it was mentioned that nearly 50 students from my school were granted legal permission to skip school and participate in a protest in support of immigrants. It is important to note that all of these students either come from immigrant backgrounds themselves or have parents who are immigrants. The post further stated that if anyone wanted the names of these students in order to investigate their families and identify any undocumented immigrants, they could reach out via direct message. It was specified that all of these students attend school in Maryland.
On Friday, a spokesperson from the county school system announced that they are currently investigating the controversial posts made by the X account, which is believed to have been owned by a teacher. It seems that the account has been deactivated since then.
According to Migrant Insider, multiple students have revealed that a substitute teacher has been appointed to take over the suspended teacher’s class.
What People Are Saying
Andrew Mendez, a student at Overlea, expressed his sadness in an interview with local news station WJZ. He mentioned that the teacher who was involved in the incident was someone that some students confided in and felt comfortable talking to. However, now there is a sense of doubt about whether they can truly trust a teacher.
According to Austin Mendez, a former student at Overlea, he believes that the statement made is racist. He argues that the assumption that these individuals are all illegal or come from illegal parents is inaccurate, as many of them have already settled their immigration status and are likely citizens by now.
Dr. Monica Sample, Principal of Overlea High School, addressed parents in a letter concerning a concerning social media post allegedly made by a teacher at the school. Dr. Sample emphasized that the statements made in the post are not in line with the school’s values and do not meet the high expectations set for staff members by BCPS.
According to the school administrator at Overlea High School, they are actively investigating and addressing the incident in accordance with BCPS policies and procedures. Their top priority is to ensure a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students. The school administration expresses gratitude to the community members who raised this concern.
In a statement to Newsweek on January 25, a representative from ICE clarified that they have not carried out any operations at schools or bus stops. The spokesperson emphasized that their enforcement efforts are centered on addressing public safety concerns and individuals who have a final order of removal.
According to Sarah Paoletti, a practice professor of law and the director of the Transnational Legal Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, individuals have the right to inform others about the presence of ICE in their neighborhood. However, ICE could potentially pursue charges of obstruction of justice against those individuals. The success of such charges would depend on the specific circumstances. It’s important to note that ICE has limitations when it comes to entering homes and detaining individuals without a warrant. If there is a warrant and the person being notified is the specific target of the operation, a prosecution is more likely to be successful compared to a general alert across the entire neighborhood.
What Happens Next?
The consequences for the teacher involved in the incident are still uncertain, as it is unclear whether they will face additional disciplinary measures or legal repercussions.