WEST NEW YORK -- Parents and students in West New York public schools need not worry that their immigration status will be reported to the Trump Administration, according to a sanctuary declaration adopted by the Board of Education on Wednesday.
The board approved a resolution declaring the district a "safe zone," for all school-age children who live in West New York, regardless of immigration status.
"While the Board acknowledges the mission of law enforcement agencies charged with enforcing our Nation's immigration laws, it views its own role as assuring the education of all school-age children for so long as they may reside in West New York, not as an agent of law enforcement," the resolution states.
"The Board reaffirms its commitment to equal opportunity for all school-age students residing in West New York to attend, and to enjoy all opportunities and benefits available in, the schools of our district, regardless of ethnicity, race or immigration status, and free from harassment or intimidation."
In a statement, Board of Education President Adam Parkinson commended fellow commissioners for unanimously adopting the resolution.
"We have made a commitment to act in the best interest of all of our students as we continue to celebrate our ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity," Parkinson, who was re-elected in November, said in a statement.
The resolution was largely symbolic, and a spokesman for the district, Jonathan Castanada, said school officials would continue to abide by all applicable laws.
On Tuesday, the mayor of neighboring Union City, state Sen. Brian Stack (D-Hudson), joined his two Assembly colleagues from the 33rd District in introducing a bill that would provide state funds to counties or municipalities denied federal funding for refusing to assist in enforcement of immigration laws.
The bill was in response to a Jan. 25 executive order by President Donald Trump to withhold federal funds from sanctuary jurisdictions. That order was issued two days before Trump's temporary ban on entry into the U.S. by people from seven Muslim-majority nations who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The ban, which Trump says is necessary to protect Americans from terrorism, was criticized by a resolution of the New Jersey State Senate, and is now being fought in federal courts.
Erin Knoedler, an aide to Stack, said the sanctuary funding bill does not pertain to school districts. Knoelder said Trump's order is directed at jurisdictions whose law enforcement agencies do not cooperate with federal authorities, and school districts do not have their own police forces.
Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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