With daily reports of federal immigration enforcement in Chicago and the suburbs, some school districts have gone out of their way to support terrified families and students, from teachers walking students to school to holding multiple “Know Your Rights” sessions.
But students in the southwest suburbs say that’s not happening at Morton High School District 201. They say their fears are being downplayed, even though their community is particularly vulnerable. About 91% of the students in the district are Latino; 36% are learning English. This week, federal agents targeted nearby Little Village and detained two high school students, community advocates say.
Students have accused interim Supt. Michael Kuzniewski of dismissing their concerns in an email to staff that was obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. And earlier this month a video circulating online shows a school-based police officer confronting volunteers passing out know-your-rights flyers outside one of the schools.
In response, students have held demonstrations, drawing as many as 1,000 people, and called for the superintendent to step down. Kuzniewski says he is not vying for the permanent position.
Students who spoke with the Sun-Times said many are skipping homecoming events this week in protest, hoping that withholding their money and presence will send a loud message to the school district.
“I feel like we’re not being advocated for, instead we’re being put down and trying to be silenced,” said Izela Bustos, a senior at Morton East. “If we don’t advocate for ourselves no one else will.”
The superintendent told the Sun-Times his message to staff was not meant to dismiss the community’s concerns and the district is there to support every student.
An internal staff email, a video
The controversy started earlier this month after reports swirled on social media of ICE activity near the district’s two schools, located in Berwyn and Cicero. On Oct. 4, Kuzniewski sent teachers and staff an email, which the Sun-Times reviewed, addressing those reports. Kuzniewski assured staff in the email that the district is committed to a safe environment and said he understands the community’s concerns “are real.”
But Kuzniewski also said that there has been “media hyperbole” around immigration enforcement and he has been reluctant to “add fuel to this media driven fire.” Students interpreted this as Kuzniewski saying the situation is being exaggerated by the media.
“He was making it seem like our story, our struggles aren’t relevant and they aren’t what we’re making it seem when truly it’s worse,” Izela said.
Many students say it feels overwhelming as they balance their typical high school lives — college applications, clubs and part-time jobs. They say they shouldn’t also have to push back on their own school district, which should be supporting them.
“We have to advocate for ourselves and our family and our community because unfortunately the strongest people we know in our lives right now are unable to stand up for themselves,” said Yocelyn Garcia, a junior at Morton East.
A few days after the email, a video, which was widely shared among students, showed the school-based police officer telling community volunteers they couldn’t pass out “Know Your Rights” fliers outside of Morton West High School. Bob Gordon, a sergeant with the Berwyn police, can be seen accusing the volunteers of “indoctrinating” students.
On Oct. 8, students showed up at a school board meeting, demanding an apology from the superintendent and asking that the district proactively support students and families, as other school districts are doing.
“We were stating our opinions on why it was kind of messed up what they said in the email and how they haven’t shown any support to students about all this going on,” said Morton East senior Andy Carrasquedo.
In a statement to the Sun-Times, Kuzniewski said his message was intended to encourage calm and factual communication among staff and reiterate that students are safe in school. His references to the media were intended to address unfounded rumors about ICE activity, “not to dismiss the genuine concerns” among families, Kuzniewski said.
“Let me be clear: we fully understand the fear and uncertainty that immigration enforcement activity can create in our community,” Kuzniewski said. “ We are here to support every student — regardless of immigration status — and to ensure they feel safe and welcomed at school each day.”
He said the district has shared its protocols regarding immigration enforcement to families through an internal messaging system.
On Oct. 14, days after the backlash, Kuzniewski posted a message to families on the district website acknowledging their concerns and included links to resources.
Kuzniewski referred questions about the video at Morton West to Sgt. Gordon, who didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.
A community of immigrants
Berwyn and Cicero are tight-knit working class communities just outside Chicago’s Southwest Side. Berwyn’s median household income is about $75,000 and in Cicero it’s $69,000. Most residents are Latino.
The Berwyn-Cicero Rapid Response Network has frequently identified immigration activity over the last several weeks as federal agents have descended on the area as part of the Trump administration’s stepped up deportation campaign.
As recently as Monday, someone was detained by immigration agents outside Morton East High School, according to a message to the community from Kuzniewski. Earlier this month masked agents detained someone at a McDonald’s in Berwyn’s Cermak Plaza, a shopping and dining center adjacent to Morton West. Students are now reluctant to visit the popular after-school spot.
“I definitely feel worried for all my friends and I know they feel the same way,” said Danny Meza, a sophomore at Morton West. “I was hanging out with a friend and she was worried about her family because they’re not from here. … We wanted to come over here to Cermak Plaza but we were worried about ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement].”
Students have also taken to the streets. Yocelyn organized a protest at Morton 201 headquarters on Oct. 11. She said hundreds of students showed up to demand more action from the district, including having schools share know-your-rights flyers, not volunteers.
For Izela, staying silent isn’t an option. She’s an American citizen whose family immigrated from Mexico. Like many in the community, she is proud of their roots. Every day she sees the distress among her family and friends, but Izela says her parents taught her to be tough.
“They’ve always shown strength and resilience through all their struggles and I feel like that’s part of who I am,” she said.