Copyright The Oregonian
Several North Portland schools are on lockdown as a result of immigration enforcement activities in the area. César Chávez School and George Middle School went into lockdown on Thursday morning, with activities and teaching continuing inside the building as normal, according to an email sent by the Portland Public Schools district to families and staff. Several other schools – including Astor, James John and Sitton elementaries and Roosevelt High – are on alert and monitoring the situation, the email said. District security officers are present at all the impacted schools and working to monitor the situation, the district said. The district also said school leaders are developing dismissal plans to ensure students can return home safely this afternoon. The district did not immediately respond to calls for comment about those plans or the lockdowns. “We recognize that news of ICE presence in the community can cause fear and uncertainty for some of our students and families. We want you to know that PPS is committed to providing an environment where students can learn, grow, and feel supported regardless of their immigration status,” the district wrote in its email to families and staff. Portland Public School officials have repeatedly said they don’t work with or share any information about students or their parents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security without a valid judicial warrant. The district also encouraged parents to call the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition hotline to report ICE activity and for direct assistance, legal help and other immigration enforcement-related support.
