Immigration Fallout Seen In Schools
Illegal Immigrants Fear Sending Kids To Class
POSTED: 9:49 am MST January 11,
2008
UPDATED: 1:42 pm MST January 11,
2008
PHOENIX -- An increasing number of illegal immigrants say they are afraid of sending their children to school for fear of being deported."It has created a hysteria across the Valley," said Noe Carrasco, a parent."What's happening is parents are very afraid," said Silvia Yamasaki, another parent. "The parents are scared they don't want to go out, they don't want to go to work. You don't know what's going to happen."Yamasaki said the word has spread that children and their families will be detained by police officers or immigration officers and the parents are keeping their children home.The concern has translated into a significant drop in attendance, especially in one west Phoenix school district."From last year to this year, we're down 500 kids," said Abedon Fimbres of the Isaac School District. "We have children who are citizens of the United States who are not receiving an education which they are entitled to under federal law and state law," Fimbres said.A meeting was held Thursday night to address parental fears.The district told parents the 400 children who attend their schools will be safe and have a right to an education.ELSEWHERE ON KPHO.COM: A man who plotted with a Phoenix publicist to extort $1.3 million from Tom Cruise in exchange for stolen wedding photographs of the actor and Katie Holmes has been sentenced to two years probation. CLICK HERE for details. MORE SLIDESHOWS: From the bizarre to the tragic to late-breaking news, visit the KPHO.com slideshow section and click away! CLICK HERE for images.
Copyright 2008 by KPHO.com. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
