The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a suit against Morris County School District which previously required parents to show their government-issued identification before being allowed to register their children in school. The court ruled in favor of the ACLU which will force the school district to change their policy and allow students to enroll without discriminating against parents.
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Several schools require parents to bring in utility bills as a proof of residence and their children’s birth certificates when registering them for the school year. One public school decided they needed more documentation before allowing children to register. The ACLU believes this is a case of blatant discrimination and so they filed suit to stop the district’s policy requiring for a state-or county issued photo ID for each parent wanting to enroll their children. The school’s policy singles out immigrant communities because those who need to provide identification have to have a social security number or legal immigration status.
The New Jersey School District superintendent was not available to comment, but the ACLU spokesperson said, “We’re pleased that the Butler School District will finally change its policy to allow students to enroll without subjecting them to unlawful discrimination.” The policy supports allowing children to get an education regardless of their parent’s immigration status. Changing immigration laws in favor of immigrants shows a promising trend towards a more rational approach to integrating them into our society regardless of their current legal status. This lawsuit also sets a precedent which will help immigrants enroll their children in public schools without the fear of being rejected.
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