A North Carolina teen received a $20,000 settlement and formal apology this week after being suspended for using the term “illegal alien” during an English class vocabulary discussion in April 2024. The settlement supports his enrollment in private school, expunges any suggestion of racial bias from his record, and reaffirms his right to lawful speech.
Seventeen‑year‑old Christian McGhee asked whether “alien” meant alien from space or “illegal alien without a green card.” A Hispanic student reportedly responded with a threat, and the assistant principal labeled the question “racially insensitive”. The school suspended McGhee for three days on grounds of racial bias and class disruption. His mother, Leah, sued, invoking his First Amendment rights .
As part of the settlement, the Davidson County School Board will pay $20,000 toward McGhee’s new private school tuition, formally apologize for mislabeling his intent, and expunge the racial‑bias notation from school records—though the suspension remains due to classroom disruption . A judge’s approval hearing is scheduled for July 1 to finalize the agreement.
Liberty Justice Center attorney Dean McGee argued the district wrongly branded Christian as racist, despite the term being defined in federal law and widely used in public discourse . Leah McGhee told reporters, “It is a term used as federal code… it could have easily been used as a teachable moment for everyone”.
This case spotlights the challenge centers on free expression and critical thinking in schools. Christian’s use of a legally recognized term sparked punishment rather than instruction. The school’s decision to discipline him over class misunderstanding not only violated his constitutional rights but also disrupted his education—leading to his transfer and the financial burden on his family.
