(Photo: parents attend a news conference in Downtown Los Angeles Tuesday when members of the Board of Education discussed plans for a 'sanctuary' policy designed to protect students who could face immigration enforcement. Photo by Eric Leonard.)
The Los Angeles Unified School District has adopted a policy to try to further protect students from immigration enforcement on school grounds.
The measure stops employees from cooperating with immigration agents and orders new training for administrators and teachers on how to help students' families facing deportation.
"Our school sites are about educating our children," Board of Education member Monica Garcia said at a news conference Tuesday.
"Any employee, any student, and family member, you should know you belong here," she said.
"Fear stops at our door," Board member Ref Rodriguez said.
"When children come into our schools they are in safe havens," he said. "Ignorance and racism will be stopped solely by education, and that's what we're here for."
The District will develop specific training for employees on how to respond to ICE agents and plans to share a, "Know Your Rights," program with parents and students that was developed by the ACLU.