Teachers Unions Conspire To Evade Trump’s Border Solutions

The nation’s most powerful teachers unions are coaching school staff to obstruct immigration enforcement and destroy the rule of law in America.

The National Education Association is America’s largest teachers union, and the American Federation of Teachers is the second largest. Both groups regularly bankroll Democrats and leftist causes, and both are publicly funded organizations, with union dues coming from taxpayer-funded teachers’ salaries. Now they have published guidance urging staff to help illegal aliens evade mass deportations, even though deportations are supported by a majority of Americans.

The presidents of both unions recently published statements opposing President Donald Trump’s executive order enabling broader immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, public officials — including Illinois Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez — have been sharing false reports about ICE raids at schools, in an apparent effort to stoke mass hysteria.

‘Safe Zones’ from the Law

The day after Trump’s inauguration, NEA President Becky Pringle suggested she would obstruct immigration enforcement.

“The incoming Trump administration is committed to a mass deportation agenda that will inflict irreversible harm,” Pringle claimed. “We have a professional and moral responsibility to keep our students safe, especially if, and when, Trump sends ICE into our communities.”

In line with Pringle’s comments, the NEA issued “Guidance on Immigration Issues” this month, “strongly encourag[ing] schools and school districts to adopt a Safe Zones policy that outlines what educators and staff should do if ICE attempts to engage in immigration enforcement at schools.” The guidance further states, “If your school district has not yet adopted such a policy, we encourage you to take proactive action.”

The NEA also said educators should have families download the app “Notifica” — by open-border group United We Dream — which offers a help button so illegals can “Notify [Their] Deportation Defense Network.” The NEA advised staff to “Distribute Red Cards,” which give illegals instructions on how to evade arrest and the consequences of breaking the law.

In the event of a raid, the NEA said, educators should “not block or interfere with ICE activities or the agents. However, you do not have to give the agents access to non-public areas if they did not present a valid search warrant.” It said staff should “not give any statements to ICE agents or allow themselves to be interrogated before consulting with an attorney.” The union told illegals to “have an emergency plan” and not to open their doors if ICE shows up.

The union published a draft “safe zone” resolution, stipulating the district create a “Rapid Response Team” in case students face “detention by ICE” and ban ICE from campus pending approval by the superintendent. The resolution states that “should ICE or other immigration law enforcement agents request any student information,” staff are to refer them to the superintendent.

This resolution accompanies a draft policy banning any “third party access to the school” that would cause a “disruption to the learning environment” in the view of the “site administrator.” The policy dictates that “if approached by immigration law enforcement agents,” staff must immediately inform the superintendent and “parents or guardians of any students involved.” If ICE asks to enter campus or obtain student information, staff must request an ID and warrant and contact the district’s lawyers. 

Numerous school districts across America have adopted “safe zone” policies, many starting back in 2016. They include the usual suspects like Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle. But districts including Miami and Nashville — in deep red states — also pledged to defy law enforcement.

‘Deportation Defense’

In her statement opposing Trump’s executive order, AFT President Randi Weingarten smeared Trump’s immigration order as “cruelty” and “un-American.” She said the public union would resist federal law enforcement and “fight to protect our students.”

The AFT offers a “Deportation Defense Toolkit” that instructs illegal aliens how to prepare for a raid by ICE.

The union tells illegals to prepare for immigration enforcement by finding “a local nonprofit organization that can help you,” getting in touch with an attorney, saving money, and “creat[ing] a family immigration raid emergency plan.” The AFT also offers a “Know Your Rights” card — similar to the “red cards” advertised by the NEA.

The AFT also directs school staff to “work with parents to develop a family immigration raid emergency plan” and turn schools into “ICE-free safe zone[s].” Like the NEA, the AFT’s guide also references the leftist immigration group “United We Dream.”

The union provides another guide, instructing illegals on “do’s [sic] and don’ts for students and their families if ICE authorities come to their homes.” It tells them “do not open the door,” “remain silent,” “do not sign,” and “fight back!” 

The AFT partnered with United We Dream, the National Immigration Law Center (which supports driver’s licenses for illegals), and the Center for Law and Social Policy (which advocates racial “reparations”) to publish these documents. 

Logan Washburn is a staff writer covering election integrity. He is a spring 2025 fellow of The College Fix. He graduated from Hillsdale College, served as Christopher Rufo’s editorial assistant, and has bylines in The Wall Street Journal, The Tennessean, and The Daily Caller. Logan is from Central Oregon but now lives in rural Michigan.