EAST LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In a decision drawing both scrutiny and debate, Michigan State University’s Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has taken the lead in advocating for undocumented students.
An email extravaganza of resources.
According to a report in Campus Reform, a website for college news, Amanda Flores, a DEI official at MSU who prefers the pronouns “she/her/ella,” sent out an email on March 19th, brimming with materials for students and faculty. The subject line of the email was “Resources and Trainings about Immigrants and Education.”
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Among the highlighted materials was the “Protecting Immigrant Students Action Kit,” a 51-page document courtesy of the National Campaign for Police Free Schools. This document passionately argues that schools should be sanctuaries of learning, free from the pesky interference of law enforcement.
The six D’s: a masterclass in activism.
The action kit doesn’t stop at mere suggestions; it lays out the “Six D’s” strategy: Dismantle, Decriminalize, Deprioritize, Demilitarize, Divest/Invest, and Defend. For instance, under “Demilitarize,” it recommends removing metal detectors and other surveillance measures that “monitor and track immigrant students.” The document says that doing this “reduces the risk of arrests, referrals to law enforcement, and information sharing between local and federal law enforcement agencies.”
Toolkit equips educators to protect illegal immigrants.
The toolkit provides model school policies, legal protocols, and rapid-response plans designed to shield students from immigration enforcement. It urges school leaders to establish safe zones, limit law enforcement’s campus role, and train staff to handle ICE intrusions while protecting student rights. The action kit calls for school districts to divest from policing and reinvest in counselors and restorative programs that foster trust and inclusivity. Ultimately, it’s a roadmap for communities, educators, and administrators to organize, resist “discriminatory” practices, and create schools where illegal immigrant students can learn without fear.
Making schools a sanctuary for illegal immigrants and their parents.
The document says that school boards, districts, and anyone working with schools – like staff, volunteers, and contractors – should do everything they legally can to support students and help stop the cycle that pushes kids from schools into jails or deportation. This includes: making sure schools are a safe place for families facing deportation, at least until they can find a longer-term solution; promising not to fire or cut ties with staff who have DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), even if the program ends; standing up for all students so they aren’t deported, no matter what; and avoiding terms like “illegal immigrant” or “illegal alien.”
Aligning with the anti-police brigade.
It’s important to note that the National Campaign for Police Free Schools goes beyond protecting immigrant students. The group identifies as “modern-day abolitionists” with the broader goal of eliminating prisons and police entirely.
What remains unclear is whether MSU fully endorses the broader ideological agenda tucked within these materials as Michigan News Source reached out to the university to inquire if they support the document and they did not respond to our request for comment.
