Since When do Students Dictate Police Policy? Or a School District Determine Who Can Go On Church Property?
If you've been anywhere near Southern Arizona this past week, you'll understand that's just what happened at a local high school. If you listen to or watch O'Reilly, you'll have heard the story. Free Republic and Lone Star Diary have the story as well.
What you see above is the school this took place at--Catalina Magnet High School, in Tucson Unified School District, Tucson, AZ.
It all started November 1, 2007 when a student was caught in possession of illegal drugs. He also appeared to be under the influence of narcotic drugs. The police were called to the school to make the arrest. It was determined during questioning the student was also an illegal. His family had been here for six years, illegally. Tucson Police Department ("TPD") called Border Patrol. The student, his brother (a junior high student) and his mother were deported. His father is being held for formal deportation proceedings.
On November 6, 2007, approximately 100 of his fellow students protested, showing up on school grounds ready to protest instead of attend classes. The protest led 5 miles to the police department headquarters downtown.
Their complaint? The presence of the police and border patrol on a school campus and the deportation of the family.
NOT the fact the juvenile allegedly had illegal drugs on his person. NOT the fact the juvenile appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic substance. NOT EVEN THE FACT THE JUVENILE WAS 17 YEARS OLD AND A FRESHMAN (how's that accommodation working out for you?).
No, they were upset because they don't feel safe in school when Border Patrol and the Police come on campus.
Now, were these little truants locked up? Of course not. Most of them had parent permission slips "excusing" their absences that day. MY parents would have beat my ass and I wouldn't have been able to sit down for a month.
So what happened? The Superintendent of Tucson Unified School District ("TUSD"), Roger Pfeuffer, "met with the students" to "talk over" their concerns and then met with the higher ups at TPD.
From the Tucson Citizen:
In Arizona, public school districts are forbidden by law to deny an education to any school-age child living here, Tucson Unified School District officials said.
The district's stance on the issue was clear: "We don't want immigration laws enforced on our campuses," said TUSD Superintendent Roger Pfeuffer. [Emphasis mine]
[...]Pfeuffer said Villaseñor came out to speak with students after their meeting and pointed out that police never would have called the Border Patrol if police hadn't been called to the school for criminal activity. [Empnasis mine]Villaseñor said police have to ask the question of citizenship when they are taking someone into custody.Community activist Isabel Garcia questioned that action. And, she added, "You should not have called Border Patrol onto campus."Villaseñor said Tuesday afternoon that TPD would no longer call the Border Patrol to churches or schools, although it will cooperate with the Border Patrol. [Emphasis mine]
My question? What on earth did a school protest have to do with TPD changing its policy to include CHURCHES? No one is touching that question.
Students reactions were typical:
Araceli Sanchez (14, 9th grader): "... conceded the arrested 17-year-old student and his family were in the United States illegally, "but, he was just another student."
Jorge Guerrero (18, senior): "How can we learn if we've scared the Border Patrol is going to come for us."
Mario Portillo (16, junior; identified by students as co-organizer of protest): "No matter if you're an illegal alien, you have the right to an education."
Notice anything about those kids? Not one white surname among them. Not one. A concession the snowball started with the possession of illegal substances, but it was turned around into a sob story for illegals. A police department changing policy, now stating publicly they will NOT DO THE JOB THEY ARE PAID TO DO BY THE LEGAL TAXPAYERS OF TUCSON so the "kids will feel safe". The school district tying the hands of the police and border patrol from doing their jobs--much like congress ties the hands of our military in combat. And the school district now somehow dictating policy regarding churches.
A local radio station in Tucson has organized a counter protest as stated above. Tucson is a powder keg because of this and the taxpaying citizens are saying ENOUGH to the activists. YOUR VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD AND IT'S OUR TURN. AND WE'VE HAD IT.
This was the blurb from O'Reilly:
After marijuana was found in his backpack, a 17-year-old Tucson student was reported to police, who discovered that the young man and his family were here illegally. The family was deported to Mexico, setting off a protest by other students and school officials. The Factor welcomed Arizona Republic columnist Joe Garcia, who accused immigration officials of overzealousness. "Does the punishment fit the crime? In this case, I don't think it does. Even his brother was yanked out of middle school and deported. There has to be some compassion and humanity and logic." But The Factor endorsed the deportation. "Any illegal immigrant who commits a crime has to go, which is why I have no sympathy for the boy and his family. They shouldn't be here in the first place."This has nothing to do with being a "hater" or a "bigot" or a "racist". This has everything to do with enforcing the laws on the books. This has to do with the minority, an illegal minority at that, dictating police policy. This has to do with a bunch of snot nosed kids telling the police what they can and can't do. This has to do with a power hungry school district refusing to cooperate with authorities. And the people have said--ENOUGH.
Jon Justice is the radio personality bringing this story to the public's attention. Go to the website at 104.1 The Truth for more details. You can email Jon from the site and you can go to the lower left hand corner of the site to view the newscasts. Only one local news station, ABC affiliate KGUN9, covered the story.
This is from Jon's page:
Friday Morning 11/09 9am
A Rally to Support Enforcement of Illegal Immigration Laws.
Military Plaza 6th Ave S. in Downtown Tucson
The people of Tucson who oppose the addition of a policy that states TPD cannot call immigration authorities to schools or churches (TUSD Policy 2119) are getting together Friday morning to show support that they want this policy removed. They also want confirmation that TPD will call immigration authorities whenever an arrest is made of an illegal immigrant, regardless of location. During the rally they will march to TPD.
If you cannot make the rally or want to join the caravan to Military Plaza, listeners to 104.1 The Truth are welcome to come to the radio station 3438 N. Country Club Rd. Tucson, AZ 85716 starting at 6am to sign a petition that will be given to TPD. This petition asks that the policy above put in place Tuesday Nov 6th by TUSD and TPD be removed.TPD needs to be allowed to enforce immigration laws and contact immigration officials in any circumstance.BREAKING NEWS: TPD responded to a call from Rincon High School Wednesday morning over a student caught with Marijuana. The student is an ILLEGAL ALIEN. In accordance with the new policy change immigration authorities WERE NOT CALLED. He was booked into juvenile detention. Proof that our laws are not being enforced and TUSD has tied the hands of TPD.
More numbers and e-mail addresses - let your voice be heard!
Chief of Police, TPD: 791-4441
Superintendent of Schools, Roger Pfeuffer: 225-6060
E-mail: roger.pfeuffer@tusd1.org
Mayor Bob Walkup
(520) 791-4201
Email: email_mayor@tucsonaz.gov
UPDATE II: Here are more numbers to call at Catalina Magnet and Rincon:
Catalina: 232-8400
Rincon High School:232-5600
Janet Napolitano
Governor of Arizona
Telephone (602) 542-4331
Toll Free 1-(800) 253-0883
Fax (602) 542-1381
Tucson District Office
Gabrielle Giffords
Tucson, AZ 85712
Phone: (520) 881-3588
Fax: (520) 322-9490
Gabrielle Giffords
U.S. House of Representatives
Phone: (202) 225-2542
Fax: (202) 225-0378
Tom Horne-Arizona School Superintendent (602)542-5057
Terry Goddard-Arizona Attorney General, Phoenix (602)542-5025, Tucson (520)628-6530
UPDATE: It's pretty simple: if the police aren't going to enforce the law... if the schools aren't going to enforce the law... if fear of upsetting a bunch of snot-nosed teenagers is going to prevent us from enforcing immigration laws, then it's up to us. Here are the hotline numbers we talked about on the show:ICE: 1-800-973-2867
BORDER PATROL: 1-877-USBPHELP (877-872-7435)
I heard later in the day representative Raul Grijalva (Arizona District 7) was also involving himself in this. SURPRISE! He started at TUSD--and his daughter is now a board member of TUSD. Rather convenient, don't you think?
This is happening in Tucson. It could just as easily be happening in your town.
**This was a production of The Coalition
Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to
participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards,
email brianbonner90-at-gmail-dot-com and let us know at what level you
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