SALINE, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – At Saline Area Schools, being an American citizen living outside the school district boundaries but still attending the school appears to be more frowned upon than being an illegal immigrant.

Student status.

The Washtenaw County district’s messaging on tracking down students who live outside the school district and investigating those living illegally in the United States has garnered a lot of attention in the past year.

MORE NEWS: Lawmakers Introduce Bills Targeting Lab-grown ‘Meat’ and Clear Labels

In October, the high school football team had to forfeit three games after officials learned one of the players did not live within the district’s boundaries.

According to a complaint filed against the school district, the district’s superintendent had been making phone calls and setting up appointments with some parents to schedule residency checks to assure they lived within the district’s boundaries.

“Failure to establish residency pursuant to Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) guidelines and residency fraud are serious infractions,” said the district’s Superintendent Steve Laatsch in an Oct. 1 letter he sent to Saline families.

It was taken so seriously that the district had been using a retired city of Saline police officer to investigate and verify if students are indeed living within the district’s boundaries, according to The Saline Post.

Illegal immigrants in the community.

But Saline has taken a completely different stance on illegal immigration.

On Feb. 7, the district sent out a newsletter to its parents updating them on their stance on immigration.

MORE NEWS: Grand Blanc’s Fisher Sets 3,000m World Record at Millrose Games

The letter stated, “It is important to note that immigration or citizenship status is not a consideration in determining a students’ residency to attend Saline Area Schools, and therefore is not collected upon enrollment.”

The letter also stated, “Fostering safe, inclusive, and supportive educational experiences for students continues to be at the heart of what we do at Saline Area Schools. We are closely following the national messaging related to immigration enforcement and are working closely with our Director of Safety and Security and district legal teams to ensure that we are taking appropriate steps to protect student privacy. … While we feel the chances of an immigration-related encounter during the school day are low, we have equipped our administrators, front office staff, teachers, social workers, counselors, and SEL coaches with protocols and resources in case they are needed.”