A first-grade teacher in Washington was placed on administrative leave after urging people on Facebook to report suspected undocumented residents, school district officials said according to Inside Edition.
Cheriese Rhode, 29, allegedly posted a message last week encouraging citizens to inform Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents of those believed to be in the country without proper documentation.
It was posted in connection with last Thursday’s “A Day Without Immigrants” boycott, during which businesses closed and children were kept home from school to show the importance of immigrants in the United States.
The message caused a furor with phone calls, emails and visits to the Prosser School District, where 62 percent of students are Hispanic, the Tri-City Herald reported.
“Due to possible safety and security concerns, as well as concern for disruption of the school environment, this teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending (an) investigation,” Prosser Superintendent Ray Tolcacher said in a statement.
“Please be assured that the views expressed by this teacher on her personal Facebook page do not in any way reflect the views, beliefs or values of the Prosser School District or its administration or Board of Directors,” Tolcacher said.
The post was later removed from Facebook and the teacher’s page appears to have been taken down. She has not responded publicly to the district’s statement.
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What happened to free speech?
There are statutes in some states that prevent school personnel from reporting illegal aliens but writing on a Facebook page used to be protected free speech.
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