BALTIMORE, MD – In light of the actions of a Baltimore County school teacher who sought to expose private student data to ICE, immigration and advocacy powerhouse CASA’s Baltimore and Central Maryland Director, Crisaly de los Santos issued the following statement:

“The actions of Baltimore County school teacher Dustin Renner are clearly reprehensible. We appreciate that the school district has taken swift action to remove him from the school. His posts this week only capped previously posted attacks on his students in public social media spaces. We assume that Mr. Renner’s career in Baltimore County Schools has come to an end.

“While this particular teacher is clearly a very bad apple, our work in Baltimore County shows us that the system as a whole needs reform. Parents and students are justifiably terrorized by the attacks coming from Washington and orchestrated locally by ICE. But the BCPS administration has failed to provide clear guidance to staff and families. Parents and students need to know that schools are safe spaces and that staff have clear instructions to follow when ICE enforcement is attempted on or near campuses and programs.

“CASA is calling on BCPS, and for that matter the Maryland State Department of Education, to adopt a much clearer policy that lays out with particularity the restrictions against agencies accessing families, programs, resources, and information while conducting civil immigration enforcement. Frankly, advising frontline staff to simply call lawyers or the superintendent is not enough. Families must know that ICE will be blocked from school resources and information and the current policy does not spell that out. CASA proposes the adoption of a much more comprehensive policy that spells out with greater specificity how the system will maximize student protection.  Other school districts including Baltimore City, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County have issued bold guidance.  Baltimore County should follow suit.

“Ensuring that sacred spaces were protected from immigration enforcement was policy under the prior president.  It has been stripped by President Trump, but in Maryland, we are in the middle of a state legislative session and delegates and senators have the ability to act. Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins and Senator Will Smith have introduced an emergency bill, the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (HB 1006 / SB 828), that would require the Attorney General to promulgate model policies for adoption by medical facilities, schools, courthouses, and places for worship.  

“In the meantime, BCPS and MSDE can act immediately. Now is not the time for subtlety.  Parents, students, and school staff need to see bold leadership. To quote a BCPS core value ‘Leadership matters. Effective leaders support learning and optimum performance at all levels.’ We believe, and we believe that BCPS believes, that learning and optimum performance starts with safety.”