East Grand Forks schools and tribes issue statements amid immigration enforcement concerns

East Grand Forks Superintendent Kevin Grover issued a statement reaffirming the district’s commitment to student safety amid reports of increased immigration enforcement in Minnesota, according to the Grand Forks Herald. In a Jan. 12 press release, Grover encouraged families seeking support to contact school offices or counseling teams. The district does not collect or maintain information about the immigration status of students or families and prohibits outside agencies from entering schools without permission, a warrant or a court order, according to the release. Federal privacy laws also limit the sharing of student records.

The Spirit Lake Tribal Council also issued a statement saying it is monitoring developments and preparing to share information on tribal identification, individual rights and available resources, according to the Herald. As of Jan. 9, there had been no confirmed ICE activity on the reservation. The Spirit Lake Nation joined the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe and Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate in a Jan. 10 joint statement calling for accountability and respect for human life.