Blandón had openly displayed photos of Trump since 2023 in his personal Facebook account, whicha is raising concerns among members of the Latino community amidst current incidents reported in several states about U.S. ICE attempting to enter the Hamline Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois (later determined to be U.S. Secret Service agents, which were denied entry) and ICE agents going to the wrong house in Brentwood, Long Island, New York looking for undocumented children.
By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
January 25, 2025
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - A circulating social media (Facebook) post by Brayan MB makes reference to Firtz Blandón's personal Facebook account showing photos of Trump most likely indicating that Blandón is a Trump supporter. Brayan MB wrote in his post, "Well well well, Principal to a huge Latino population at Allen Field Im sure he will protect his kids when ICE comes a knocking."
Blandón has the right to post what he desires in his personal Facebook account, but amidst of Trump's mass deportation agenda, he might have to endure public criticism for posting photos of Presidential candidate Trump since 2023 and additional concerns from the parents of Latino students attending the elementary school.
34-count convicted felon Donald J. Trump, 78, was elected the 47th President of the U.S. in November 2024.
Blandón was tagged in Brayan MB's FB post, so he must be aware that his FB account was tagged and shared. Blandón's FB account is still active.
So far, the Milwaukee Public Schools District and local immigrant groups including Voces de la Frontera and Forward Latino including local immigrant rights activists and local public elected officials haven't commented on Blandón's personal FB posts or that they currently had any concerns about Blandón posting Trump's photos in his personal FB account and also being the principal at Allen Field Elementary School.
According to Change dot org publication, All MPS schools are supposed to be covered by the Safe Haven program to do all possible to protect students and families from ICE raids but implementation of an already insufficient program has been very weak!
The Change dot org post claims that, "Principal principal Blandon at Allen-Field School has gone beyond placing an unjustified statement in Ms. Garcia’s file, towards a 1 day unpaid suspension scheduled for 1/29, charging that she sent a “political” message."
Alondra Garcia apparently sent out information from the school to students families about legal services available to them, especially if they are potentially facing deportation, which school administrators should have done in the first place. Blandón who is a openly Trump supporter believed that Garcia sent out a political message. Link: https://www.change.org/p/stand-with-alondra-garcia-solidarity-with-milwaukee-teachers-defending-immigrant-rights
On January 27, 2025, 2nd grade teacher at Allen-Field Elementary School posted the following letter to the Milwaukee Public Schools superintendent.
❗️OPEN LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY❗️
Sent to Superintendent, Board Members and MTEA leadership THIS morning
Good morning everyone,
I have some very concerning information to share with you all in regard to principal, Fritz Blandón, at Allen-Field Elementary. His comments and behavior towards implementing the Safe Haven Resolution protocol are problematic. The most recent incident occurred during our monthly Building Committee meeting on January 23rd. The Safe Haven Resolution was an agenda item, and I brought up my concern that if a federal ICE agent were to come to our school, we are to follow protocol as given by the district which is to direct ICE to student services and NOT share any information regarding any student. Principal Blandón went onto say, "well if a federal ICE agent comes to the school with a signed warrant from a judge looking for someone, I can't stop. I won't put myself in front of them, that is federal government, and I can't do anything about it." There were several other teachers that were present during the meeting who can testify and give their own input to these comments. What he said is a problem. How are our students supposed to feel safe in a school environment that is said to be a Safe Haven for all, when the school leader will not follow protocol? We were all shocked to have heard this from him. I went on to ask then, "well if a parent is coming to you for printed copies of the resources found in the Safe Haven Resolution page on MPS, will you print it out for them since you said you are the point of contact for the Safe Haven Resolution" and Blandón went on to say, “yes, but I'll charge them 25 cents per page." I was confused to why, so I asked, "where does it say it is 25 cents per page?" and he said, "it is District policy". I didn't know how to respond and left it at that. He is putting up barriers for OUR families from receiving the services and resources they need. I could tell he was adamant to even want to do the bare minimum of communications with staff in regard to the Safe Haven Resolution protocol slides that were shared with all principals during the Principal Institute. I heard through other colleagues at different schools that their principal shared the protocol slides with their staff as part of their PD and asked him why we haven't received the memo. He deflected by saying that "principals receive many things at the principal institute and I do not share everything because not everything is relevant to staff and families". Who says that especially with the scary reality of how fearful our families feel in regard to ICE showing up at schools where it was once deemed "sensitive" locations and no longer is. I myself fear for my own safety as I am an immigrant with a temporary protection. I do NOT feel comfortable nor safe working under leadership that says these very concerning and outright harmful comments to the community he serves and is supposed to protect from ICE. I beg you to do something about the situation AND him. Thank you.
In solidarity,
Alondra❤️🔥
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