Area students, businesses participate in ‘A Day Without Immigrants’

MOSES LAKE –— Superintendents from throughout Grant and Adams counties noted a decline in attendance Monday as students participated in a protest entitled “A Day Without Immigrants.” Multiple businesses in the area closed in support of the event including Ephrata’s La Nueva market.  

“We’re going to close Carniceria la Nueva Market tomorrow in support of immigrants,” the business said in a social media post.  

The protest was observed nationwide in support of immigrants and in opposition to actions taken by President Donald Trump’s administration regarding the deportation of undocumented foreign nationals in the U.S. An unknown number of other local businesses were closed. Superintendents did not have exact numbers on how many students missed classes Monday. Still, Wahluke School District Superintendent Andy Harlow said there was a noticeable decline in students present at campuses throughout the day, though he said staffing was not noticeably affected.  

“I can tell you that attendance around our whole area definitely dipped,” Harlow said.  

After hearing rumors of something being organized Friday and seeing a growing trend toward the protest moving forward Sunday, Harlow said Wahluke opted to send out an email to parents and staff Sunday evening about the issue. The gist of the notice sent out indicated that it was up to individual families to determine whether to participate in the event, but that Wahluke’s administration would prefer the students be in attendance.  

Harlow said the district committed to remaining open because the administration knew it would be a safe place for students to be with education, breakfast and lunch and after-school activities available to maintain students’ quality of life.  

Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray echoed that sentiment in saying that Ephrata schools support students and would prefer students be in school, learning. Each learner’s absence would be examined on a case-by-case basis and parent-excused absences would be treated as usual.  

“It sounds like, from talking to other superintendents in the region, that that’s consistent throughout the region,” Murray said. “I know the Wahluke School District had some incredibly high absenteeism along with Othello and Quincy. Ours is not quite as high, at least at this point (about 2 p.m.), but still fairly significant.”  

Harlow said Wahluke has tried to offer support to students and families in a variety of ways, including providing free resources that would help families properly navigate immigration issues. This includes legal support during the Migrant Parent Advisory Council Night held last week and another opportunity this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with Central Washington Legal Aid at Wahluke High School.  

Harlow said the goal is to ensure every student is in class as often as possible and learning. He said the issue is simply finding a balance.  

“I don’t know, politically, how missing school really sent the message that’s intended, but I’ll let (students and their families) decide that part,” he said. “We’re just disappointed they’re not here today.”