The Rhode Island High School vice principal “asked the teachers to raise $5,000 to pay the Coyote people-smuggling cartel to traffic a student across the Mexican border,” claims the union president
- Stefani Harvey called smugglers “a group that helps people” asking for donors
- The school denied the email was genuine, but the teachers’ union confirmed it
- The principal eventually sent out a follow-up email calling it “not appropriate.”
The assistant principal of a Rhode Island high school allegedly sent an email urging staff to send donations to pay a people-smuggling cartel to traffic a student across the Mexican border.
“Coyote” fees are paid to people who help sneak immigrants into the United States to cover the risk of entering the country illegally.
Stefani Harvey, the assistant principal at Mount Pleasant High School in Providence, sent an email Thursday that reporters received, asking for donations for the students’ “coyotes,” which she claimed are “a group helping people”.
There has been some dispute over the email’s accuracy – the school told the Daily Caller it was “fake” and said it had no student who was a victim of human trafficking – but it appears to have been proven genuine by both presidents the teachers’ union and the principal, who sent an email describing it as “not appropriate”.
The assistant principal of a Rhode Island high school allegedly sent an email urging school staff to send donations towards paying “coyote” fees to help smuggle them to the United States
Maribeth Calabro, president of the Providence Teachers’ Union, told WPRO she confirmed the legitimacy of the email with members who teach at the high school.
“I was a little taken aback by the content,” she said, “I engaged the district, I called the leadership in the district and I said, ‘Hi guys, what’s going on here,’ and they were aware of it and they were said it when they were made aware that they were going into investigative mode immediately and that there would be correspondence after the investigation was completed.’
Calabro said some of its members felt it was fraudulent to scam members out of their Social Security money and said their members were “concerned.”
Tiffany Delaney, principal of Mount Pleasant High School, confirmed and condemned the email in a letter to staff on Friday.
“I appreciate faculty and staff contributing to a cause that supports a student, but the nature of the request is not appropriate,” she wrote.
“All funds raised will be returned and we will seek appropriate methods to support our students.”
The school has approximately 1,100 enrolled students and so many Spanish-speaking students that they issue a Spanish version of their welcome letter to parents.
Assistant principal at Mount Pleasant High School in Providence, Stefani Harvey, on Thursday sent an email that reporters received, asking for donations for the students’ “coyotes,” which she claimed were “a group helping people”.
Maribeth Calabro, president of the Providence teachers’ union, told WPRO that she confirmed the legitimacy of the email sent to members who teach at the high school
Tiffany Delaney, principal of Mount Pleasant High School, confirmed and condemned the email in a letter to staff on Friday
Mount Pleasant’s mission statement is: “Mount Pleasant High School provides all learners with a meaningful and purposeful education through a wealth of opportunities to connect and feel secure in their school community.
“They engage in a high-level and rigorous program to prepare them for college and career success. We celebrate the diversity of our community by affirming and supporting students and their interests.’
According to a 2010 United Nations report, “coyotes” are a high-risk, often high-reward business that brings in an estimated $6.6 billion annually to smugglers on Latin American routes into the United States.
“Smugglers use lies to lure the vulnerable on a perilous journey that often ends in abduction or death,” said Chris Magnus, then US CBP commissioner, of the illegal activities in May.