The following resolution was adopted by members at the December General Membership Meeting.
RESOLUTION
TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND STAFF DURING IMMIGRATION RAIDS
December 11, 2025 General Membership Meeting
WHEREAS, four students from Western International High School have been detained in the last two months by Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement despite the fact that all of them have filed formal petitions for asylum.
WHEREAS, the student climate and learning culture at Western and for all immigrant students in DPSCD is now one of fear instead of hope.
WHEREAS, the teachers at Western International are often the first to learn about their students' detainment and have gone above and beyond the call of duty to fight to find their students' quality lawyers and resources to help under a limited time constraint.
WHEREAS, the teacher unions of Chicago and New York City have already made such public statements.
THEREFORE, IT BE RESOLVED that as the Detroit Federation of Teachers Union we make a public statement that
1. Requests our four DPSCD students, Mor, Santiago, Kerly, and Antony be released from ICE custody and returned home immediately.
2. Call on our new mayor elect Mary Sheffield to reiterate that as a welcoming city, Detroit Police Department should not cooperate with ICE and Border Patrol. We have seen this done successfully by the Minneapolis, Chicago and New York City mayors.
THEREFORE, IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that DFT and DPSCD provide training for all schools on how to help migrant kids and families avoid getting picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at home or in public – going beyond the district’s guidance limited to keeping ICE out of schools.
