A Mobile County public school worker is currently on administrative leave after sending an email to co-workers on how to protect students from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to FOX10 News.
Efforts by AL.com to reach the school system for comment on Wednesday were not immediately successful.
Alabama schools on Tuesday were urged to continue normal operations.
In an email, that has since been retracted by MCPSS, the employee told co-workers to reassure families that their children could stay home as a “precaution” due to fears of ICE raids occurring at schools. Until recently, schools and hospitals were considered off-limits for immigration raids.
The employee, who called themself “Mother of Exiles,” provided a list of directives to co-workers including to “do no harm” and “text me on my cell if ICE shows up anywhere closeby.”
Terrence Mixon, MCPSS Assistant Superintendent, released a statement retracting the email and saying the school system would comply with federal mandates if federal agents appeared on school campuses.
“When we learned about the email, the superintendent immediately retracted it,” Mixon said. “This is now a personnel matter that will be handled according to our policies and procedures.
As always, MCPSS will follow all federal mandates, to include dealing with federal agents when and if they come onto any of our campuses. All students are to report to school daily, and no authorization has been given stating that students will not be penalized for unexcused absences.”
