A Waukegan woman, who arrived here at age three months and has worked as a secretary for Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 for six years under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), lost her job after her status ended through no fault of her own.
Guadalupe Ceja Hernandez applied for an extension of her DACA status on Dec. 12, with her status scheduled to expire April 24. Kalman Resnick, an attorney representing her union, said renewal applications are normally filed 120 to 150 days before the expiration date.
Resnick said Tuesday, 180 days after Hernandez applied for her extension following the DACA procedure, precisely, the application is pending because of delays at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“Her extension applications are still pending only because the (President Donald) Trump administration is deliberately delaying the adjudication of DACA renewal applications as part of its hostility to immigrants and their communities.”
The District 60 Board of Education voted 5-1, with a member absent, to terminate Hernandez’s employment during a meeting Tuesday at the Education Service Center in Waukegan because of its obligation to comply with federal law.
Superintendent Theresa Plascencia said that before the board’s deliberation, personnel matters are discussed in closed session to protect the privacy of the individual. She spoke of her reasoning for recommending termination but not specifically about Hernandez’s situation.
Plascencia said the district has an “obligation to comply with federal employer employment laws requiring all employees to maintain a valid authorization to work in the United States.” She invited Hernandez to apply for work once her DACA status was renewed.
“We recognize this situation is difficult and deeply personal, and we do not take it lightly,” Plascencia said. “It is the district’s responsibility to enforce employment regulations consistently and without discrimination.”
Dulce Ortiz, the executive director of Mano a Mano Family Resource Center and a Waukegan Township Trustee, said during time set aside for audience participation that Hernandez is another local victim of the Trump Administration’s immigration enforcement policy.
Ortiz urged compassion for someone who followed the rules, suggesting Hernandez will not likely be the last district employee with the same situation. This is a time for consideration, not rigid enforcement.
“There are others employed by the district that may face the same fate,” Ortiz said. “The district has an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to fairness, equity and the well-being of its employees by allowing additional time for the work authorization renewal to be processed.”
Board member Carolina Fabian, who first urged the district to develop plans to protect immigrants shortly after Trump was elected in November 2024, said she voted for the termination because she did not want a compassionate vote to create problems for others or the district.
“I fully understand the unjust immigration laws and the broken system,” Fabian said. “Yet, I do not want to expose our district and our families to legal, financial and social repercussions or create new precedents that will create negative consequences.
“Instead, I will continue to advocate for social change translated into systemic change in our laws and federal agenda. We are in unprecedented times and we are also in a moment where we can change history and impact the future through your civic action.
Board member Anita Hanna was the lone no vote on the resolution. She said after the meeting, Hernandez should be able to keep her job because she is working hard for the district and following the rules.
“It’s not fair,” Hanna said. “She did everything right and, in my opinion, she should be able to keep her position.”
Joining Fabian voting for the termination were board President Michael Rodriguez and board members Christine Lensing, Jeff McBride and Rick Riddle. Board member Amgela Ramirez was not at the meeting.
