Northfield Area Educators Work To Support Immigrants

Educators in Northfield are working to ensure immigrant students feel safe and supported in the wake of President Donald Trump's most recent executive order on immigration.

Trump's Jan. 27 order suspends all refugee entry for 120 days; indefinitely suspends entry by Syrian refugees; and blocks for 90 days all immigration of citizens of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen.

Northfield area English Language (EL) teachers who work with local refugee and immigrant children say students are worried about their futures, unsure if they might separated from their families as a result of deportation.

Faribault High School student Qali Mohamed, 14, told Northfield News that Trump's order has brought concern over whether her mother, who has a green card, could be deported back to Somalia.

Northfield High School EL teacher Jennifer Lompart told the Newspaper that the reaction to Trump's order is not about politics, but "about universal human values" being violated:

"There are certain values that we Americans hold to be true, and when these values are cast aside, then we mustn’t stay silent; Democratic or Republican, we must look in the mirror and ask ourselves, ‘Then what exactly is worth standing up for?"

• Northfield City Council Considers 'Sanctuary City' Status

Congressman Jason Lewis, who represents Minnesota's Second District, said in a statement Monday that "While this includes border security and immigration controls on those who enter our nation from dangerous parts of the world, I have never supported a religious test for immigration and nor does the Constitution."

"Nor do I believe in banning entry for green card holders, who are lawful residents of our country no matter where they are flying from, or those who have aided us on the field of battle," Lewis continued.

"Yet the American people do expect us to properly vet those who wish to do us harm."

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