DeKalb Schools Chief: Campuses 'Will Be Safe Places'

DECATUR, GA -- The head of DeKalb County schools vowed Monday that the district's campuses will be "safe places for learning and teaching" amid new immigration rules that went into effect over the weekend.

DeKalb Schools Superintendent Stephen Green issued the statement as anxiety mounted around the nation for untold numbers of students who found out this past weekend that many of their foreign-born friends, family members, co-workers and classmates who left the country won't be allowed back into the United States.

On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order that temporarily bars citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for the next 90 days. The order also halted the entry of all refugees for 120 days.

Read more: Thousands protest #RefugeeBan at Atlanta airport

On Monday, Green said that DeKalb schools will remain a beacon of inclusion and diversity.

"I want to ensure each of our students that we have a deep and full commitment to be culturally sensitive to them. We strongly support the diversity of our school system, and we greatly value our role in supporting our immigrant population through the benefits of quality education. This is a core belief."

He said that bullying or discrimination in any form will not be tolerated on or off district property.

The new Trump Administration mandate, enforced with stunning haste, abruptly halted the return of immigrants who were out of the country this past weekend and ensnared many foreign-born residents in a legal quagmire.

The refugee ban figures to dramatically affect many residents of Clarkston, in DeKalb County. The small city has become known for its thriving immigrant population and has been called the "Ellis Island of the South."

"Imagine how hard it is to come to a new country and start life over without familiar ties to family, culture or language. DeKalb schools give an anchor to our new citizens. Our role as school leaders is to help learning in our schools to become love ... love for a new place, for our way of life, and ultimately, for one another."

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