No Sanctuary for Illegal Immigration in Our Schools

As a candidate for the Anchorage School District (ASD) School Board, I hope that my run for office is not too late. Especially with regards to the implementation of sanctuary policies for illegal immigrants. This policy comes at a time where resources are stretched thin in the district, teachers are crying out for help, and students are years behind....

The Superintendent's Stance Is Misguided and Dangerous to Students

The stance taken by our superintendent does not align with the educational mission of our district. He has chosen a political stance that has gone outside of his duty as Superintendent of our district. Allowing illegal immigrants into our schools places an undue strain on our educational system, directly affecting the quality of education our children receive. As seen in Congressional hearings, since President Biden took office in 2021, nearly half a million illegal immigrant minors have entered the U.S., with significant financial repercussions on public education. States like California, New York, Texas, and Arizona have reported costs reaching nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars in one fiscal year just to integrate these students. Alaska was not immune to this as we saw the same strain on resources (Source: Judicial Watch). With Anchorage School District facing a $111 million deficit, we simply cannot afford it.

Legal Presence in Schools

The law is clear: if you are not here legally, you should not be here. This principle extends to our schools and we must set the proper example for our kids. Laws are made to be followed and enforced. No child should be slighted by another because of their immigration status. Our priority should be to provide education to those who are legally entitled to it. The presence of undocumented students can divert resources from our legally resident students, affecting everything from classroom space to teacher availability. Adding any additional students should be left up to the teachers, but the general consensus is, they want lower class sizes, as do parents.

The Impact on Education

The correlation between illegal immigration and educational outcomes is pretty clear. The financial burden of accommodating students with limited English proficiency (LEP) or English Language Learners (ELL) is significant, often leading to reallocation of funds from core educational programs to language support services. This reallocation will result in less individualized attention for all students, contributing to lower academic performance. In Anchorage, where 3 out of every 5 kids struggle with basic literacy, we cannot afford to dilute our educational focus further (Source: FAIRUS.org).

Safety Concerns

The introduction of sanctuary policies in schools compromises student safety. As a district that touts "Student safety is our top priority", this is far from it. We've seen a rise in violence, mental health issues, and threats to teachers in areas with high immigrant populations and increasingly so across all of our schools. For instance, recent incidents involving illegal immigrants committing crimes in various states have highlighted the potential for increased security risks within educational environments (Source: FAIRUS.org). Here in Alaska, there are uncountable instances of violence across the district. The district does not hide the numbers, they simply do not know. Students threaten teachers without discipline. Students fight and staff are unable to intervene. Actual threats of killing other students are found and not reported to parents. The amount of information kept from the community is staggering. It is time for that to end, and give out kids a safe place to learn.

A Call to Action

This is not just about policy; it's about the practical impact on our schools. Our kids deserve an environment where education is the focus. Where resources are not spread too thin, and where teachers can teach without additional burdens. Classrooms are not sanctuaries like churches, and the Superintendent is not a man of faith leading a flock. He has a job to properly spend resources to educate our kids, not be a pawn in a political game. He is failing on all fronts and should be considered on the hot seat the same as those on the board currently.

Conclusion

It's time for the ASD to align its policies with the realities of our educational needs. We must return to a focus where the rights and needs of legally present students are not compromised by sanctuary policies. Our schools should be places of learning, not battlegrounds for immigration policy debates. The focus needs to be to prioritize our children's education and safety by ensuring that our schools serve those who are legally entitled to be here.

Alexander Rosales, Candidate, Anchorage School Board - Seat A #SecureSchools #EducationFirst #ProtectOurKids #NoSanctuarySchools #IllegalImmigration #SchoolSafety #BackToBasics #AnchorageEducation #AlaskaSchools