DETROIT (WWJ) -- The leader of Michigan's largest school district is taking a stand against the Trump administration's plans for mass deportations.
While President Donald Trump has promised to have ICE raid and round up undocumented immigrants, some at schools and churches, Detroit Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti said his district will not cooperate.
During his annual State of the Schools address on Monday, Vitti said he will not allow Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents to conduct sweeps at Detroit schools.
"This district, through its sanctuary district policy and the evolution of that, is not going to let ICE in our buildings without a warrant," Vitti said. "We're not going to give records to the federal government, to immigration officials. We are going to be true to our core value: students first."
Vitti also used Monday's speech to attempt to quell fears over Trump's plan to dismantle the of the Department of Education, and scrap Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) programs.
"We will still do what's right, even if there is no Department of Education. We have our own Diversity, Equity and Inclusion themes and focus and strategies and initiatives," Vitti said. "Frankly, we don't need the federal government. DPSCD knows what needs to happen to protect our kids and protect our families and our employees. Period."
This comes amid reports that school districts across the state are putting guidelines in place regarding what to if there's an ICE raid.
Vitti said it's up to administrators and district employees to protect all students — whether they are transgender, students of color, or those coming from homes with undocumented family members.
Calling student attendance and chronic absenteeism the number one priority for the district moving forward, Vitti also pointed to some accomplishments as well — including improving metrics for student testing post-COVID across the district, and higher teacher salaries.
Vitti's comments regarding ICE come as HSI Detroit said on social media that the agency is "currently working to apprehend Immigration violators in Michigan and Ohio" — instructing the public to report "suspicious activity" to ICE.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, meanwhile, has said he's not aware of any mass deportations or immigration raids happening in the city — despite Councilwoman Gabriel Gabriela Santiago Romero releasing video allegedly showing ICE agents in Detroit.
Speaking at the Detroit Policy Conference last Thursday, the mayor stated that "Detroit is not a sanctuary city," and that city leadership will comply with federal agencies and the law.
On Sunday, ICE officials said they conducted 956 arrests of undocumented immigrants in Chicago.