A school district in Spokane, Washington, voted to prohibit Border Patrol agents from its schools, claiming they would create distress among children.
The decision comes after members of a group, Latinos En Spokane, said children could be “traumatized.”
Executive Director of Latinos In Spokane, Jennyfer Mesa, told The Spokesman Review, “They could be targeted as immigrants because they have an accent, or if they’re asked something about their parents, you know, that could be a stressful situation.”
“These fears, these stressors create PTSD in students and families who have had the experience, whether it’s a family separation or concerns about another member of the family.”
“Especially having an agent at your safe space – schools are safe spaces for students and families,” Mesa added. “This is where we come to learn.”
Chief Patrol Agent Lloyd Easterling of the Spokane Sector wrote on X, “It is unfortunate that the Spokane Public Schools Board has taken this stance against Customs and Border Protection.”
He shared a statement from Border Patrol’s Spokane sector, which read, “When agents and officers attend events at schools they are merely there for educational purposes, at the invitation of the school, and not to conduct immigration enforcement activities. Agents and officers from CBP attend countless events at schools throughout the nation – without controversy. CBP personnel work tirelessly day in and day out to protect our nation from a variety of threats to include terrorists and dangerous narcotics. CBP routinely honors requests from local law enforcement agencies to assist in life threatening situations including active shooter incidents at schools.”
“Our officers and agents are active members of their communities and have children who attend the local schools,” the statement continued. “The fact the school board has taken this position of intolerance against a law enforcement agency is disheartening and makes the community less safe.”
