Highschool college students in Meriden, Conn., plan to rally Tuesday in help of a classmate who was snatched by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alongside along with his father, days earlier than commencement.
College students and state officers are outraged the teenager can be cooped up in a Texas ICE detention middle as a substitute of onstage receiving his diploma in particular person at Tuesday night’s ceremony in Connecticut. ICE detained them final week after a routine scheduled check-in, Meriden officers mentioned.
“Graduation is one of the most important days of a student’s life, and everyone should be able to sit down and celebrate,” Maloney Excessive Faculty senior Khamren Rodriguez informed WVIT-TV of her lacking classmate, who was recognized solely as Kevin for privateness causes.
“It’s incredibly disheartening to see,” fellow grad Rowan Fisher informed WVIT. “He worked so hard, just like the rest of us.”
College students informed WFSB-TV they’ll maintain a peaceable protest on the commencement ceremony, which begins at 6 p.m. Superintendent of Colleges Mark Benigni vowed that the group soccer participant eyeing neighborhood school will nonetheless get his diploma.
“I can assure you that students who meet all of the Meriden Public Schools graduation requirements will be issued a diploma from the Meriden Board of Education Benigni said in a statement.”
Native and state officers mentioned they have been on the case.
“Our community is outraged and working hard to get our Maloney student back to Connecticut,” Meriden Mayor Scarpati and Council Majority Chief Sonya Jelks mentioned in a press release, noting that the highschool was providing counseling to college students and households.
Former U.S. Secretary of Schooling Miguel Cardona, who’s from Meriden, posted a video registering his frustration on the hypocrisy of detaining individuals whilst they complied with the regulation.
“This case is more proof that the Trump administration has proven their immigration policy is not about deporting criminals,” Sen. Chris Murphy informed WFSB-TV.
