01/28/2026
Statement on the Proposed ICE Facility Near Western Heights
First, I want to be clear: the views expressed here are my own and do not represent the official position of Western Heights Public Schools or its administration, nor do they indicate current or future action by the Board of Education. For the district’s official response, I encourage the public to refer to the statement released by Superintendent Savage.
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Western Heights is no stranger to challenge.
Over the years, we have weathered a tumultuous school board, multiple superintendent transitions, a state takeover, a citizen-led petition, a state audit that revealed deep financial turmoil, national controversy regarding our staff/educators, and a broken and often silenced community—along with the heartbreaking loss of educators who helped shape this district. Again and again, our community has been thrust into the public eye; not by choice, but by circumstance. And yet, through every season of instability and grief, our schools have continued to open their doors each morning, grounded in one unwavering purpose: our students.
With the announcement of a proposed ICE “1500 people processing facility” planned for 2800 S. Council—within close proximity to multiple Western Heights school sites—we find ourselves facing another moment that demands clarity, courage, and unity.
Regardless of political belief, it is undeniable that placing an ICE facility within approximately 1 mile of four of our schools does nothing to promote a safe, secure, and free learning environment. Fear does not stop at a property line. It follows families home, it sits with students in classrooms, and it weighs on their ability to learn, grow, and feel they belong.
As an educator and the school board vice president (and as a proud Latina) I carry a deep responsibility that extends beyond my title. My responsibility is to every student and every family in this district. Representing Seat 1, where this facility is proposed, only deepens that responsibility to advocate for the students and families most immediately impacted.
Students and families come to me because they feel safe doing so. They have shared deep fear, uncertainty, and concern about what increased ICE presence in our community means for their children. When families trust you with that fear, you do not stay silent. Schools must be places of stability, especially when the world outside feels uncertain. Our students deserve classrooms defined by opportunity, not anxiety; by belonging, not fear.
This is not about politics. It is about humanity and responsibility. It is about protecting the emotional, psychological, and physical well-being of children. Schools cannot thrive when families are living in survival mode. When families feel targeted or unsafe, the impact is felt across our entire school community. An environment of fear is incompatible with education.
Western Heights has faced many battles, and we are still here. I have seen this community rise through moments that could have broken it, and one truth has remained constant through it all:
When it comes to our children, we are strongest when we stand together.
Now is the time to do exactly that…to listen, to protect, to ensure families know their rights, and to speak clearly about what our students need in order to thrive. I remain committed to standing with this community and fighting for schools where every child feels safe, supported, and free to learn.
Briana Flatley
Vice President, Board of Education
Western Heights Public Schools
Ward 1 | Seat 1
