MIAMI — In a rare showing of bipartisan unity, the Miami-Dade School Board voted in favor of a symbolic resolution to ask the Trump administration to create new protections for immigrants who will soon lose their Temporary Protected Status, also known as TPS. Venezuelan and Haitian immigrants will lose the protection, which allows people from countries with challenging circumstances to live and work legally in the United States, this year.

The item passed with 5 votes in favor and 4 dissenting votes. Danny Espino was the vote that strayed from the board’s usual conservative majority, allowing the item to pass. He joined with Steve Gallon, Luisa Santos, and Joseph Geller to propose the measure and Dorothy Bendross-Mindigal cast the fifth vote.

Espino represents District 5 which includes Doral, a stronghold for Venezuelan immigrants, many of whom have or have family on TPS and have expressed frustration with the canceling of the program.

The resolution urges the administration to consider new safeguards for law-abiding immigrants who were previously protected by TPS.

The school board proposal explains that many families in Miami-Dade County Public Schools are recipients of TPS and will be impacted by the revocation of their status.

“The elimination of TPS without alternative safeguards unfortunately may jeopardize the legal status of many law-abiding students and their families in our community,” reads the item.

The item calls on federal policymakers to “create new measures that stabilize the immigration, employment, and protection status of law-abiding individuals who fled countries due to religious and political persecution, economic upheaval and civil unrest due to political corruption, and other similar crises.”

During the meeting, board member Steve Gallon called immigrants in the community “friends,” and said, “we support you.”

School board’s role in influencing federal policy

During a committee meeting on Tuesday before the school board meeting, Espino encouraged his fellow board members to search their hearts and support the item.

The item was co-sponsored by Steve Gallon, Luisa Santos, and Joseph Geller. Gallon’s district includes parts of Little Haiti, Miami Gardens, Opa Locka, North Miami, and North Miami Beach, which includes neighborhoods with large Haitian immigrant populations. Haitian capital Port-au-Prince is teetering on the verge of lawlessness as gangs are take over many of the institutions in the city, but as recently as last week a flight of Haitian deportees arrived back in the country.

Joseph Geller said he vehemently disagreed with the idea that Venezuelans are a danger to society. “They are no danger or threat to anyone who lives in this country. They are trying to be safe and they have done that within the confines of our system,” he said.

Venezuelan migrants have been targeted by the Trump administration, which recently issued an executive order invoking the Alien Enemies Act, a law dating back to 1798, in order to deport alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to a prison in El Salvador. Several relatives of those deported claim their family members were not involved in a gang and were denied due process.

During the committee meeting, Luisa Santos mentioned the idea of including a statement that would offer support for students in public universities who are recipients of DACA – or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival. Recently, in-state tuition for those students was revoked in the state.

Santos also mentioned her own experience as an undocumented student in Miami and how much it meant for her to feel supported by her teachers. “It can mean everything when a leader acknowledges that you are not a criminal, that you belong in our schools”.

Danny Espino said he was motivated to propose the item by residents who expressed their concern about TPS ending.

Board Chair Mari Tere Rojas said, “because of the uncertainties I can understand the anxiety and fear.” But, she said she would not support the item because she believes the school board does not have the jurisdiction to support the measure.

Steve Gallon mentioned that in 2017 he introduced a similar item asking President Trump to extend TPS. It was approved unanimously.

Roberto Alonso, Monica Colluci, and Rojas expressed concern that the item would distract from the school district’s role, which is to educate.

During Wednesday’s school board meeting, Mari Tere Rojas re-stated her position, saying that although the district supports immigrants, “the school board does not have jurisdiction over immigration policies.”

During the meeting, Maurits Acosta, the student representative on the board spoke out in favor of the item. “It’s not about where you are from it is about what you give to make this country better,” he said.

“We must demand those who built their lives here have a right to stay. They came to contribute, work, and dream.”

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