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.

The DFT Office will close at the end of the day on Friday, December 19th and will remain closed for the next two weeks. The office will reopen on Monday, January 5, 2026. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday.

The DFT is sending condolences to the family of Dr. Arthur J. Divers. Dr. Divers had a career in DPS spanning 43 years and was an active  member of the DFT. He retired in 2001, having worked at Foch Middle School, Jefferson Intermediate, and Osborn High School. After retirement he remained active in the retirees chapter, having served as vice president and chapter president. In 2010 AFT Michigan recognized his work as an educator, a political and community activist by awarding him the Walter Bergman Human Rights Award. Funeral arrangements have been announced by Swanson Funeral Home and can be found on this link: https://www.swansonfuneralhomes.com/obituary/dr-arthur-divers.

The DFT Offices will close for the Thanksgiving holiday on Tuesday, November 25th at the end of the business day. We will  reopen on Monday, December 1, 2025. We send our wishes for a safe and happy Thanksgiving for all.

The DFT has made several endorsements in the Detroit City Council races:

• Detroit City Council At Large (2 seats are up for election): Mary Waters and Coleman A. Young II
• Roy McCalister, Jr., District 2
• Cranstana Anderson, District 3
• Renata Miller, District 5
• Denzel Anton McCampbell, District 7

The DFT is a part of the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO so we are sharing their endorsements in several local races.

WHAT IS THE INVEST IN MI KIDS PROPOSAL?

Press Conference Announcing the Merger of the Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals with the Detroit Federation of Teachers

The Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) and the Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals (DFP) will formally announce their merger, uniting thousands of education professionals under one strong collective voice. Union leaders will outline the impact of this historic merger on Detroit’s educators, students, and families.

• Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins, President, Detroit Federation of Teachers
• Terrence Martin, President, American Federation of Teachers Michigan
• Donna Jackson, Former President, Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals
• Other union and community leaders

There is a change of location for the September and October DFT 231 Retirees Chapter meeting. The chapter will be meeting in the conference room at AFT Michigan, David Hecker Building, @ 2661 E. Jefferson, in Detroit. The time remains the same: 11:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Click to read the Press Release of Secretary of Education's Visit to Detroit

We are deeply disappointed in the visits from U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and State Representative Matt Hall, given their ongoing support for billions of dollars in proposed cuts to the U.S. Department of Education and the overdue Michigan budget. Both President Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins and Executive Vice President Jason Posey are highly concerned about the implications of reduced funding for all public schools and in particular the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Read the press release in its entirety.

DFT is proud of its participation in the Labor Day Parades held around the country along with our fellow AFT locals: AFT Labor Day 2025

We are pleased that AFT National's Executive Vice President, Evelyn DeJesus, came to our city to speak to Detroit's labor union members and parade participants: AFT National EVP Address at Detroit Labor Day March