1 week Ago
Members of our Community Editorial Board, a group of community residents who are engaged with and passionate about local issues, respond to the following question: The Boulder Valley school board recently agreed to consider a resolution in support of marginalized students, including immigrant and LGBTQ students, following Donald Trump’s threat to start large-scale deportations after he takes office. Your take? The role of a school is not to enforce immigration laws but to ensure that all students, regardless of background or immigration status, feel safe and supported. Schools are guardians of students’ right to education, not agents of immigration enforcement.
This is not only a moral argument but also a legal one. Colorado’s Constitution mandates a “thorough and uniform system of free public schools throughout the state,” affirming that every child, regardless of status, has the right to education. The U.
S. Supreme Court’s Plyler v. Doe (1982) further solidifies this principle, ruling that undocumented children are “within the jurisdiction” of the State and must be provided free public education.
The alternative — a society with a segment of illiterate individuals — is untenable. Education is an investment in everyone’s future, reducing long-term costs in social services, healthcare and incarceration. By focusing on their mission, school districts protect vulnerable students and strengthen society as a whole.
While some critics may argue that the district’s resolution is unnecessary or dismiss it as symbolic, I disagree. These resolutions are valuable as public declarations of values, shaping decisions and reinforcing the district’s commitment to its students. More importantly, Boulder Valley is backing its statement with action.
By refusing to track immigration status and committing to legal counsel for federal requests, the district protects its students and aligns its policies with its constitutional mission. This approach fosters trust within the community and shields marginalized students from the fallout of federal immigration policies. Critics might also argue that these actions undermine federal authority, but this misinterprets the separation of roles in governance.
Immigration is the responsibility of the federal government, while school districts are tasked with educating every child in their jurisdiction. Boulder Valley’s policies uphold this mission without compromising student safety or trust. These actions reaffirm the district’s dedication, as mandated by Colorado’s Constitution, to its students and community.
By offering legal counsel, the district ensures that any federal overreach is addressed with a measured and lawful response. This approach embodies essential checks and balances — schools should not facilitate immigration enforcement at the expense of their students. By putting resources behind its values, the district demonstrates accountability, leadership and a commitment to protecting its educational mission.
The resolution is a reminder of what public education stands for: inclusion, opportunity and justice. It attests to Boulder Valley’s commitment to every child, regardless of background, and serves as a model for how schools can navigate the complexities of a broken immigration system while remaining true to their fundamental mission. Hernán Villanueva, chvillanuevap@gmail.
com BVSD’s school board passed a similar resolution eight years ago when Donald Trump’s first actions as president included the Muslim travel ban and an attack on DACA. Second time around he’s gearing up to do even worse. Therefore I approve of Boulder’s local leaders, including the school board, sending a very clear message that, again, they/we as a community will uphold our values and policies, specifically in support of these two groups during a period of undeniable threat to their safety and wellbeing.
For a few weeks in the final stretch of the presidential campaign, 41% of pro-Trump ads in competitive states employed anti-trans themes. Journalist and trans activist Erin Reed, in an NPR interview, labeled this a classic fear campaign strategy intended “to distract you from issues that you normally care about by making you so afraid of a group of people..
.that you’re willing to throw everything else away.” Despite transgender individuals making up a tiny portion of our population, attacking their rights and humanity has become a pillar of the MAGA platform.
Already about half of U.S. states have anti-trans laws on the books.
Before Trump takes office, many trans people are rushing to update personal documents and stockpile medication. The negative impact on our youth is measurable. A single example: The Guardian reported that the Trevor Project, a non-profit focused on suicide prevention efforts for LGBTQ+ youth, had a 700% post-election increase in contacts to its crisis hotline.
As for immigrants in our state (and one in 10 Coloradans is an immigrant, whether with a work visa or green card, a “Dreamer,” naturalized citizen, or undocumented), “all are now under an immigration crackdown cloud,” according to The Colorado Sun, since clearly there would be no way to enact Trump’s promised sweeps without violating privacy and safety across the board and fracturing families and neighborhoods. The incoming administration has made it clear it will target Colorado (Operation Aurora, etc.) so we need to be ready.
The Boulder Bubble can be a bit much, but personally, I’m grateful to live in a town that gets top marks from the Human Rights Campaign because of our inclusive laws, policies and services (though of course there’s always room for improvement). We can all counteract messages of hate, wherever they originate, by cultivating communities of respect and support in our schools, neighborhoods and workplaces. Spread the word about organizations like Rocky Mountain Equality (formerly Out Boulder County, www.
rmequality.org). If you’re looking for immigrant resources, Boulder County’s website is a great place to connect: bouldercounty.
gov/government/about-boulder-county/immigrant-resources. Diane Schwemm, [email protected].
