In a unanimously approved resolution filled with open disdain for President Trump’s efforts to enforce longstanding U.S. immigration laws, the left-wing Fairbanks School Board voted on Aug. 18 to reaffirm its commitment to block federal agents who seek access to area schools or information about possible illegal aliens.

The resolution echoes a similar measure passed last September and follows legal strategies from leftist groups such as the ACLU and the National Education Association.

Introduced by School Board President Robert Burgess, the resolution claims that Fairbanks schools strive to be free of “discrimination” while welcoming “all students, regardless of immigration status, race, color, religion, gender, or country of origin.”

It goes on to blast Trump’s move last year to allow immigration officers to enforce the law in schools, college campuses and other areas, claiming such actions are “causing concern among educators, students, and families served by the school district.”

The resolution claims that enforcement of immigration laws has caused “distrust of government agencies amongst people of color, regardless of immigration status.”

It also asserts, without any evidence, that federal immigration enforcement “on or near district property or transportation routes disrupt the learning environment for all students, regardless of immigration status, by discouraging attendance, participation, and family engagement.”

The resolution admits that the Fairbanks School District includes immigrants, including “mixed-status families.” It openly acknowledges that “numerous students …. and family relationships are at risk because of their immigration status.”

It then claims that the district “stands firm in assuring all students and families that we will do everything in our lawful power to prevent disruptions to the educational environment that may be created by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).”

According to the resolution, all district staff and employees are to be enlisted in the effort to use all lawful means for restricting federal agents from obtaining access to student information, unless they have verified warrants that supersede district directives.

These directives are to be distributed to all families and employees throughout the district.

Longtime School Board Member Timothy Dorren praised the board for passing the resolution, calling it “extremely timely,” and saying it was “very important that we make this statement.”

The Department of Homeland Security, however, has repeatedly stated that ICE agents do not target schools or children for enforcement.

“ICE is NOT going to schools to arrest children,” DHS stated on its social media account earlier this year. “A dangerous illegal alien felon fleeing into a school, or a child sex offender working as an employee, may create a situation where an arrest is made to protect public safety. Criminals are no longer able to hide in America’s schools to avoid arrest.”

The statement goes on to note that the Trump administration trusts “brave law enforcement to use common sense. We will not tie the hands of law enforcement officers; they must be allowed to PROTECT children from public safety threats.”

In reality, the Fairbanks resolution can only go so far.

U.S. schools cannot block a valid judicial warrant. Once presented and verified, access must generally be granted to the extent specified, and actively shielding or harboring someone known to be removable can risk federal criminal liability.

Federal supremacy laws prohibit local school districts from attempting to nullify federal immigration authority. Schools can, however, control their own resources, property access rules, and information-sharing.

Given that ICE enforcement in or around schools is extremely rare, it appears the resolution is largely a symbolic gesture by the school board against Trump and his immigration enforcement priorities.

Last fall, Homeland Security issued a statement, noting that some media outlets have attempted to “create a climate of fear and smear law enforcement,” which has contributed to ICE law enforcement officers facing a “1,000% increase in assaults against them.”

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