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Sacramento District Considers Making All Schools Immigration Safe Havens

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Amid the hate crimes and fears of deportation stemming from Donald Trump's presidential win, one local school district is taking action to protect its students.

The Sacramento City Unified School District is voting on a resolution which could turn its schools into safe havens.

The goal of the resolution is to make students of all backgrounds feel safe at school, whether they're legal or illegal.

"I think that is the best thing that could ever happen to California."

Mohammed Ameer Khan fully supports the resolution being considered by the Sacramento City Unified School District.

The resolution aims to make every school within the district a safe haven for immigrant and ethnically diverse students, in light of the hate rhetoric that began surfacing after the presidential election.

"They should be protected under all circumstances," Khan said, referring to students.

Khan has three grandchildren who attend Camellia Elementary, a school he says is well-known for its ethnic diversity.

"We have 48 languages spoken in Sac Unified and more than 17-thousand are Latino," said Jessie Ryan, the woman behind the resolution.

She intends to keep it the district one of the most ethnically-diverse in the country by making it a safe haven.

"That means we will not share data that identifies immigration status, also that we will do professional development with our teachers, principals and our school staff so they can help end hate rhetoric and promote an environment of tolerance."

The resolution would also give the superintendent power to keep federal agents from entering schools and deporting students.

"The district already has a zero-tolerance policy for hate rhetoric, bullying or discrimination," Ryan added.

Ryan says the district plans to connect students and teachers with various outreach groups if the resolution passes.
But some wonder if that is really needed.

"I have concerns about people coming here illegally, but the kids already here should be protected," one man said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement began a new practice in 2011, where federal agents could no longer enter sensitive areas including schools.

Sacramento City Unified School District officials say the resolution will help hold federal agents to that practice.

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