Message to Denver Public Schools Board of Education

Milo Marquez

Posted February 12, 2026

Dear Members of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education:

We are writing as concerned community members to express our deep disappointment and alarm regarding the Board’s failure to act with urgency to protect the safety of DPS students and their families in light of ongoing threats and actions by federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

By not immediately establishing clear, enforceable policies and safety guidelines, the Board has left schools, educators, students, and families without direction or protection during a time of profound fear and uncertainty. This inaction places the safety and well being of tens of thousands of students and their families at risk, particularly those from immigrant and mixed status households who are already experiencing heightened trauma and instability.

It has appeared to the community that members of the Board are preoccupied with other priorities. While we recognize the many responsibilities before you, our community is clear: immigration related protections are the number one priority right now. The current climate demands immediate attention and decisive leadership.

We respect the policies, processes, and responsibilities of the Board. However, we believe that under these extraordinary circumstances, the temporary suspension or expedited adjustment of current rules is both justified and necessary. Waiting for standard timelines and procedures leaves students and families vulnerable. Protections must be in place before ICE or other federal agencies arrive at our schools, not after harm has already occurred.

We do want to acknowledge and thank the DPS Board President for taking the time to meet with and listen to members of the community, and for working alongside community allies to help draft board policy aimed at protecting our children and families. As the only immigrant member of the Board, the President brings lived experience and perspective that clearly informs this leadership. That willingness to engage and lead is appreciated. We only wish that the rest of the Board would demonstrate the same level of courage and urgency in this moment.

We also want to express our appreciation for the continued support shown by the DPS Administration toward our immigrant community. Their actions have demonstrated the District’s commitment to protecting students and families and to ensuring that schools remain safe spaces.

DPS has a moral and legal responsibility to ensure that schools remain safe spaces for all students, regardless of immigration status. When the Board delays or avoids decisive action, it sends a message that student safety is secondary to political caution. That is unacceptable.

Students cannot learn when they are afraid. Families cannot fully engage with schools when they fear detention, separation, or surveillance. Educators cannot effectively support their students without clear policies that prioritize safety, dignity, and care.

We urge the Board to act immediately to adopt and enforce comprehensive safety guidelines that clearly limit cooperation with ICE, protect student and family privacy, and provide staff with the tools and training they need to respond appropriately to federal enforcement threats. Anything less represents a failure of leadership.

Our students and families deserve better. They deserve a Board that leads with courage, clarity, and an unwavering commitment to their safety.

Milo Marquez, Chair, Latino Education Coalition.