MARSHALL — Amid a new change of administration in the United States and uncertainty increasing for immigrant and undocumented families in the area, the Marshall school district affirms their support to its students who may be experiencing unpredictable worries.

“We support all of our families and all of our students, and we are here to meet their needs,” Marshall Public Schools Director of Teaching and Learning Beth Ritter said. “Our biggest thing is to make sure that our students feel safe when they’re in the schools, and for them to understand that that school is a safe place.”

Marshall schools do not ask or track immigration status for any of its students.

According to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal, there are approximately 3,000 undocumented students graduating high school each year in the United States.

In addition, a 2022 report from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development states that the total immigrant population in southwest Minnesota grew 40% from 2010 to 2020.

Undocumented immigrants, those who are not a legal resident, may be classified “undocumented” if they were brought to the United States by undocumented parents, or have a Visa that expired. They currently have certain protections under the Constitution, including the right to work or own property, and pursue education.

Ritter works closely with the school’s Parent-Student Connectors, who are minority family advocates that help multilingual students in their education in several ways.

“I met with some of our Parent-Student Connectors yesterday (Tuesday), because they were hearing concerns from families,” Ritter said. “Our job as a district is to keep our students safe and to educate them. We will continue as normal. If something were to happen … We would deal with it appropriately. But for now, we will run business as usual.”

Minnesota State Chancellor Scott Olson also voiced his support for Minnesota’s higher education immigrant and undocumented students last week.

“No doubt, there’s going to be changes. But, our values haven’t changed,” Olson told the Independent. “For Minnesota to prosper, for Minnesota to grow, for Minnesota to have the kind of workforce that Minnesota wants and deserves, it’s going to need everybody.”

The district wants to ensure that along with any possible concerns, changes or worries, faculty, staff and community members will continue to keep its students and families their highest priority.

“It’s just reiterating to them that school is a safe place. Your children are safe here,” Ritter said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen … I know there is fear in the community, there is, so we need to support our kids and our families the best that we can.”