School offers cash and apology to student punished for using phrase "illegal aliens" in classroom setting.
In a significant development, a school district in North Carolina has agreed to a settlement in a case where a 16-year-old student was suspended for using the term "illegal aliens" during an English class discussion. The student, Christian McGhee, was later required to have marks denoting "racially insensitive behavior" on his permanent record.
The settlement, approved in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, follows a year-long legal battle. The school district has been ordered to correct McGhee's permanent record so it no longer denotes racial insensitivity. Moreover, the district must issue an apology and pay $20,000 to McGhee and his family.
The case gained attention due to allegations of a biased response from the school. The settlement also requires the school to acknowledge "the inappropriate response to this matter by a former member."
Sarah Parshall Perry, vice president and legal fellow at Defending Education, commented on the case, emphasizing the importance of free speech rights in schools. She stated, "This settlement underscores the significance of protecting students' First Amendment rights and the need for schools to foster an environment where open and honest discussions can take place."
The settlement was initially intended to be sealed, but any request to seal it has since been withdrawn. However, it's worth noting that there are no reported recent lawsuits filed by students against schools specifically for First Amendment violations relating to expression about immigration status in the United States as of mid-2025.
The case gained further attention when it was reported that McGhee received a personal recommendation letter from former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The case, however, is not the only one involving allegations of First Amendment rights violations. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares recently discussed allegations of antisemitism at a private school.
In a related but separate incident, it was reported that two school board members allegedly sent messages with the mother's arrest record to county leaders and residents, encouraging people to post it on social media.
As the debate around free speech in schools continues, this settlement serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding students' First Amendment rights and fostering an environment that encourages open and honest discussions.
[1]: Link to the source for the information about the lack of recent student lawsuits related to First Amendment rights and immigration status. [2]: Link to the source for the information about the Virginia Attorney General discussing allegations of antisemitism at a private school. [3]: Link to the source for the information about the incident involving two school board members sending messages with the mother's arrest record to county leaders and residents.
Discussion on the First Amendment rights in schools often arises, as demonstrated by the North Carolina school case where a student was suspended for using a controversial term in an English class. This case resulted in a settlement that requires the school district to correct the student's permanent record, issue an apology, and pay $20,000 to the student. The settlement also coincides with Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares discussing allegations of antisemitism at a private school, further emphasizing the need for schools to foster an environment that promotes free speech, education-and-self-development, and politics, especially in general-news-worthy discussions.
