Some DPS immigrant families told to "self-deport" by Trump admin
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Some immigrant families with children in Denver Public Schools have been told by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to "self-deport" within seven days — and use a newly launched DHS app to report their departure, according to the district.
Why it matters: It's the latest example of how President Trump's push for mass deportations is hitting home in Denver schools.
State of play: DHS started sending termination notices electronically last week to thousands of immigrants nationwide — including Venezuelan families with children at DPS schools — who had entered the country using the CBP One app, a Biden-era platform that helped facilitate legal border crossings.
- The Trump administration shut down the CBP One app and created the new DHS system that allows immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally to report when they leave.
- Trump says the new self-deporting system is about efficiency and safety. Critics call it a fear tactic designed to drive up voluntary departures.
Driving the news: In response to the notices, DPS is hosting a bilingual webinar today with local immigration attorneys to help families understand their rights. A recording will be posted online Wednesday.
- DPS spokesperson Scott Pribble tells Axios Denver the district isn't endorsing any legal advice shared but wants to "support our community in any way possible" amid growing concerns.
What they're saying: Morgain Sanchez, a Denver middle school teacher, told the New York Times that many of her students' families had received notices and were terrified.
- "They don't know what they will do," Sanchez said.
By the numbers: Although DPS does not track immigration status, Pribble said approximately 4,100 students without prior U.S. schooling — a likely sign of recent migration — were enrolled across the district last year.
Between the lines: This isn't the first time DPS has been caught in the crosshairs of Trump's immigration crackdown this year.
- In January, the district reaffirmed its policy banning federal immigration enforcement at schools, on buses, and during school activities — and laid out protocols in case of ICE raids.
What we're watching: A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from revoking a Biden-era migration program for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
- Immigration experts told the New York Times that many immigrants in Colorado and beyond who receive self-deportation notices may still have legal grounds to stay.