By Juan Davalos
TAMPA, Fla. — On Feb. 12, 2025, the Denver Public School System (DPS) filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for the policy proposal that allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to conduct operations in or around school zones.
Approximately a week before Denver filed its lawsuit, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gave a public statement to correspondents at CBS News.
“There’s no bar in the State of Florida for conducting immigration enforcement operations,” DeSantis said to CBS.
This public statement by Florida’s governor went after the United Teachers of Dade and the Broward Teachers Union.
The statement expressed fears about the administration’s proposed dismantlement of the U.S. Department of Education, as first reported by NBC Miami on Feb. 6, 2025.
William Myers, an associate professor of political science and international studies at The University of Tampa, said he believes federalism protects a state’s autonomy.
However, Myers said that given DeSantis’ political ideologies, it is safe to assume the state will cooperate with the proposals brought forward by this administration.
“If a state, like Florida, orders its school districts to allow ICE to conduct an operation, then schools have to cooperate. Schools are not independent from state governments, but state governments are independent from the national government,” said Myers.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the federal government has a long-standing policy not to engage in immigration enforcement actions at schools known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). However, Myers thinks the Trump administration seems willing to ignore or reverse this policy.
“Part of the reason for FERPA is the desire to respect people of faith and to allow children to get an education,” he said. “If dismantled, immigrants will fear they might be arrested at these places and they may not go to church or school. Everyone loses when a child is denied access to education, and it seems more and more likely this will happen.”
One of the main building blocks of the Trump 2024 campaign was bringing “traditional” values back to the American family.
“A culture of radical individualism took root, one where the responsibilities and joys of family life were seen as obstacles to overcome,” said Vice President JD Vance in his March for Life speech on current issues.
Maria Barrera is a long-standing medical interpreter now working in Lexington. Originally from Puerto Rico, she is a member of her local Latino community, working and helping many immigrant families with their citizenship. Regarding the vice president’s comments, she said his rhetoric becomes hypocritical when the proposed policies disproportionately affect vulnerable kids.
“A teacher from my kid’s school with whom I regularly talk told me the other day how a student approached her with concerns about being separated from his parents,” Barrera said. “They should protect the kids. I don’t think they can help the families. At least let them finish school and stay until they are 18 or older. They are just children.”
U.S. congresswoman Frederica Wilson delivered a public statement criticizing the current administration’s propositions pertaining to public education.
The government representative alluded to the idea of this theoretical legislative change being a betrayal of sorts to our most vulnerable demographic: children. Specifically, she cited it as “outrageous” and “a ploy straight from Project 2025.”
“Congress must take action to ensure the U.S. Department of Education is properly funded and continues to operate as normal,” she said.
As of today, the future of schools as sanctuaries remains uncertain as potential federal policy shifts fuel debates about its morality and legality.