El Paso schools bracing for possible border shutdown; plans in place to help Mexican students

El Paso schools are getting ready for the possibility President Donald Trump shuts down the border with Mexico.

On Friday, Trump threatened to close the southern border, or large sections of it, next week if Mexico does not halt illegal immigration “immediately.” The president’s threat came amidst reports of a “Mother of all Caravans” reportedly forming in Honduras. Mexico’s interior secretary said she has been told the caravan could have up to 20,000 members.

The president’s opponents said shutting down the border could affect the economies of both the U.S. and Mexico.

“It could mean all trade with Mexico,” Trump said when questioned by reporters in Florida. “We will close it for a long time. I am not kidding around.”
Several private schools, where kids have to pay to attend, are already bracing themselves.

Administrators with Father Yermo Catholic School told ABC-7 about 40 percent of the school’s population crosses the border everyday from Mexico.

“For the students, we have though about the possibility of having classes taken through the internet, online, but it’s not the same thing. It will affect the advancement of students,” said Sister Maria.

Sister Maria told ABC-7 she is concerned students will fall behind, even with online classes. “Let us take the class of science, which requires a lot of hands-on. Science requires a lot of laboratory hands-on work and you are not going to have that,” she said.

The El Paso Independent School district is working with organizations like Red Cross in the instance students get stuck in Juarez or their parents, who work in Juarez, aren’t able to come back to El Paso to pick them up.

For higher education like UTEP, a plan is already set in place for the more than 900 students who live in Mexico. Several UTEP staff and faculty also live in Mexico.

Dean of students Dr. Catie McCorry-Andalis told ABC-7 students will be able to access classes through Blackboard, temporary housing, food pantries and counseling will also be available.

“We have a team that has been actively working through our distance education group to ensure they can continue to do their studies remotely. It’s unfortunate, but we’re going to do all we can,” said McCorry-Andalis.

UTEP launched a website where students can access for help if the border does shut down.