JOINT STATEMENT – January 28, 2026

As education leaders, our shared responsibility is to ensure that schools remain safe, stable, and welcoming environments where every student can learn without fear.

Recent immigration enforcement action, both nationally and here in Michigan, have created anxiety and uncertainty for students, families, and educators alike. When events beyond the schoolhouse generate fear or trauma, the effects inevitably show up in our classrooms, hallways, and communities.

Regardless of differing perspectives on public policy, children should not carry the emotional weight of adult decisions. Students should feel safe getting on the school bus each morning. Families should be able to bring their children to school without fear or intimidation. For children to learn and thrive, schools must be spaces of belonging.

Our collective Associations – the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Michigan Education Association (MEA), Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA), Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA), Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB), Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education (MAASE), Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA), Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity (MASO) and Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) – stand together in support of educators and school leaders who are working every day to protect student well-being and maintain safe learning environments.

We urge decision-makers at all levels – local, state, and national – to carefully consider the impact of their actions on students and school communities, and to act in ways that preserve safety, dignity, and trust.

Our focus remains clear: supporting educators as they do the critical work of creating schools where every student feels secure, supported, and able to learn.