At a Tuesday meeting of the Portland Board of Public Education, at-large member and Board Chair Sarah Lentz claimed that immigrants and refugees have “come under attack” after the election of Donald Trump, and said that the district is preparing for potential mass deportations of immigrants by the incoming Trump administration.

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Lentz, who during the Tuesday meeting was unanimously nominated to her third term as board chair, opened her remarks regarding the recent general election by saying the results had “created a lot of feelings.”

“Since out last meeting, the nation has learned the outcome of the most recent presidential and other elections across the country,” Lentz said. “These results have created a lot of feelings, and rightly so in many members of our community.”

“This election was incredibly important and consequential and we are already starting to feel the impact,” Lentz continued. “I’m here to remind all of us on the board that regardless of any of the outcomes of these elections, our job remains to continue to be responsible for ensuring a challenging, relevant and joyful education, that empowers every learner to make a difference in the world.”

“Our district is remarkable because of the diversity that we embody, and as board chair I vow to continue to protect the work of this district and move it forward until every student has what they need to be successful and thrive,” Lentz said.

Lentz then claimed that “one of the groups of our community that has recently come under attack in the administrative changes in our beloved immigrant and refugee community,” adding that the alleged “attack” will “likely only intensify.”

The Portland School Board chair said that the district is collaborating with its multilingual center to provide support for families with questions, and is working to make sure that “there are supports in place if a sudden deportation plan is put into place that could result in students being separated from detained parents.”

Lentz said that per a resolution passed by the board in 2017, during the first Trump administration, that unless required by a court order, Portland Public Schools employees, contractors and volunteers cannot use district resources for the purpose of immigrant enforcement, and cannot inquire about a student’s or parent’s immigration status.

Additionally, the district will not grant U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers access to public school facilities for the purpose of immigration laws.

“Just a reminder, that there are no current plans for mass deportation or other action, but we’re doing everything that we can to be prepared should this become the case,” Lentz said.

Portland Public Schools has a large population of immigrant students. According to the district’s 2023 State of the Schools report, 30 percent of students in Portland Public Schools are actively learning the English language.