78 signatures
Collection finished
Petition is addressed to: Guidepost Montessori (Higher Ground Education)
We ask Guidepost Montessori to join the federal lawsuit PCUN v. Noem before the August 11, 2025 deadline to be added as a plaintiff. By joining, Guidepost can help restore legal protections for schools, churches, and other sacred spaces from immigration enforcement — and prevent future arrests like the one that traumatized our South Beaverton campus.
Reason
On July 15, 2025, a father was violently arrested by ICE outside Guidepost Montessori’s South Beaverton campus just after dropping off his child. The arrest used the school’s parking lot as a staging ground, and agents ultimately smashed the parent's car window and forcibly removed him from the vehicle — despite no provocation or resistance on his part.
This traumatic event was made possible because the federal government recently revoked its “sensitive locations” policy — a long-standing practice that previously protected schools, places of worship, and hospitals from immigration enforcement.
A group of organizations have filed a lawsuit (PCUN v. Noem) seeking to restore these protections. Guidepost Montessori — as a nationwide network of over 130 campuses — is uniquely positioned to lead by joining the lawsuit as a plaintiff. As a school directly impacted by this new policy, Guidepost has the legal standing and moral authority to represent the interests of schools across the country.
If Guidepost joins, it could help prevent future arrests on school grounds and preserve sacred places where children and families should always feel safe. The legal team at Innovation Law Lab has confirmed that Guidepost must be added as a plaintiff before August 11 if it wishes to participate in the amended complaint.
Petition details
Petition started:
07/30/2025
Collection ends:
08/11/2025, 23:59 PDT
Region:
United States of America
Topic:
Education
News
-
Dear friends and fellow supporters,
Thank you for signing and sharing our petition urging Guidepost Montessori to join the PCUN v. Noem lawsuit. I shared the petition, signatures, and comments directly with Guidepost's CEO Maris Mendes on Tuesday, August 4. Despite this strong showing of support from the community, Guidepost has decided not to join the lawsuit. Please see their response attached.
Many of us feel deeply disappointed that the school has chosen not to stand with us in this critical moment. Guidepost had a unique opportunity to lead nationally and protect schools, churches, and other sacred spaces — not only for our children, but for children everywhere. If you feel compelled, you can also share your disappointment directly with CEO Maris Mendes at families@guideposteducation.com.
But the fight is not over.
Innovation Law Lab has invited us — the parents and community members directly affected — to join the lawsuit ourselves as individual plaintiffs. Some things to note:
- You may participate using your real name or a pseudonym for privacy.
- All legal costs are covered.
- Experienced attorneys will handle the case.
- Our role is to share how this event impacted our community and why protections are urgently needed.
If you are interested in joining as a plaintiff, please email me (carolinekmedeiros@gmail.com) so I can connect you with the legal team. While Innovation Law Lab is seeking leave to amend the complaint (which may extend the August 11 timeline), we should determine now who is willing to join as an individual plaintiff.
With gratitude,
Caroline Medeiros
Guidepost South Beaverton Parent and Immigration Attorney
Debate
More on the topic Education
