GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – School districts in the area are trying to ease concerns of Hispanic families they serve.
Those concerns and fears are from federal agents arresting 83 people living in Wisconsin.
The arrests happened Friday through Monday in 14 counties. 19 people in Northeast Wisconsin were arrested.
In the days after immigration officials arrested nine people in Brown County, Green Bay Area Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Langenfeld tells FOX 11 it hasn’t seen an alarming increase in student absences.
“In the past, when I believe ICE was here the last time, we did receive calls from families who indicated they were fearful. This time it came from concerned citizens who had questions about it.”
Langenfeld wrote a letter to parents Thursday to address those concerns.
It includes a reminder that schools only release students to a third party if there is parent or guardian authorization or a lawfully issued warrant. The letter also reminds parents to keep updated emergency contact information at their child’s school. It also asked parents to contact their child’s principal if the child is afraid.
“Whatever the situation is, our staff members are trained in trauma-informed care, for example, and to be responsive,” said Langenfeld.
Rev. Ken DeGroot is the co-founder of Casa Alba Melanie. The Hispanic resource center’s purpose is to build trust within the community.
“What we know is there is an awful lot of fear and trembling. They’re really afraid. That always happens after ICE, immigration comes in and arrests some of the people.”
Law enforcement officials say immigration officials typically visit the area once a year.
Both Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith and Superintendent Langenfeld say they’ve never heard of immigration officials targeting children at school.
Appleton Area Schools sent a similar letter home to families.
Immigration agents arrested three people in Outagamie County during the same four-day operation.
