Educators respond to immigration ruling

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A principal in Mobile County said Friday’s court ruling on the Alabama Immigration Law won't have an effect in her school.

A federal appeals court blocked two more sections of the new Alabama immigration law. The problem was with schools checking the immigration status of students.

On October 4, principals across the state received instructions from the state department of education on how to handle the new law. The instructions make it clear that no child will be denied an education regardless of his or her immigration status. It also points out that the new law only applies to students enrolling after September 29.

Many principals read this document to parents and explained their child would be safe, but still there were hundreds of students pulled from school.

Now that this portion is on hold, some say it doesn't change anything.

The day after the bill was signed, fear created a lot of empty desks at schools across the state.

In Mobile county, superintendent Roy Nichols said he lost good students and parents.

"They were there anytime you needed them. They were very supportive of the school. Even if their children got in trouble, the child would get in trouble with the parents too,” said Nichols.

The majority of those families came from Fonde Elementary. Principal Katryna Ellis said as far as she's concerned, the court ruling doesn't change anything.

"The school's portion can be overturned, but the kids, of course, have to be by their parent. If the parents are not at a comfort level or don't have the proper documents, it’s null and void for us, so it doesn't help us bring these families back to our schools,” said Ellis.

That portion wouldn't effect the five families who left Fonde Elementary. The students could still receive the same education, and since they were already enrolled, they wouldn't be questioned about their immigration status.

Ellis said children were pulled from school because of a portion of the law that was upheld. It gives law enforcement the authority to check for proof of citizenship of anyone pulled over.

"When the parents heard this, they immediately fled,” said Ellis.

Ellis said many of the families went to states like Texas and Georgia, and won’t be returning, nor does she think there will be any more new immigrants enrolling.