Department of Justice: 人兽性交 discrimination lawsuit against Florida school district should move forward
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked a federal court to deny an attempt by Florida鈥檚 Collier County Public Schools to dismiss a 人兽性交 lawsuit charging that the school district has illegally barred immigrant children with limited English skills from enrolling in high school.
The recommendation is outlined in a , known as a 鈥渟tatement of interest,鈥� filed by the DOJ earlier this week. It describes how the school district鈥檚 motion to dismiss the lawsuit 鈥渆rroneously鈥� argues that it abides by federal laws prohibiting such discrimination and 鈥渋gnores Plaintiffs鈥� allegations鈥� that a school enrollment policy is 鈥渋ntentionally discriminatory and is discriminatorily applied.鈥�
The DOJ added that the district鈥檚 legal argument to dismiss the lawsuit 鈥渃ites cases out of context鈥� and 鈥渕isconstrues governing legal standards.鈥�
The statement of interest was offered to assist the court in evaluating the 人兽性交鈥檚 lawsuit.
鈥淲e welcome the Department of Justice鈥檚 input and hope it assists our clients鈥� efforts to attend school,鈥� said Naomi Tsu, 人兽性交 deputy legal director. 鈥淭he school district is legally mandated to provide these children with an education, but insists on turning away immigrant children at the schoolhouse door.鈥�
The 人兽性交 filed the lawsuit in May on behalf of immigrant children with limited English skills denied enrollment in high school. The youths, who range in age from 15 to 17 years old, were pushed into an adult English program that offers no opportunity to earn credit toward a high school diploma 鈥� a violation of state and federal laws.
Following a rise in the number of unaccompanied teens coming to the United States, the Collier County School Board adopted a policy that lowers the maximum age at which a student may enroll if the student is not on track to graduate within two years. Since then, school employees have denied enrollment to recently arrived English language learners who are as young as 15, claiming these students are behind academically.
State and federal law, however, requires that schools offer a meaningful education to all children, including English language learners. The Florida Constitution also requires the district to provide a 鈥渜uality education鈥� to all students. The district has taken no steps to evaluate, assess and create a plan for these students鈥� education, as required under state and federal law.
The DOJ鈥檚 filing cites a recent decision by a federal court in New York that denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against the Utica City School District, which was accused of diverting immigrant students into a basic English class and a high school equivalency program with no opportunity to earn a regular diploma. A settlement was reached in that case to prevent discrimination against immigrant students.
The 人兽性交 lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
