A substitute teacher has been fired from the Roosevelt School District after he made comments about calling Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a group of students.

“I’m just glad that the school did hear me out,” said student Daniel Battle. “And they did take my complaint very seriously. But I still feel like the communication on their end could have been way, way better.”

Battle was in the classroom on Wednesday morning when the substitute teacher threatened to call ICE on students who were signing fake names during attendance. Battle’s incident report sparked a review from the school district.

“As a teacher, we look up to you, and you're supposed to be one of the leaders in our community,” Battle said. “The fact that you had the audacity to not just say that you're going to call ICE, but to say that you're going to call ICE in a classroom with a lot of Hispanic kids. That really struck a nerve with me.”

The superintendent sent out a second letter Thursday afternoon saying, “The substitute teacher has acknowledged that the reference was inappropriate and has offered a respectful apology…. [He] has been removed from further assignments and will not serve in any capacity with the Roosevelt Union Free School District going forward.”

The district also added, “The safety, well-being, dignity, and sense of belonging of our students are our top priorities. We also recognize, deeply, that references to immigration enforcement can be frightening and harmful for students and families.”

Daniel Battle’s older sister, Emelina Battle, says she’s proud of how her brother stood up for his classmates

“Because of what he did, other kids feel more comfortable to speak up for themselves…” Emelina Battle said. “We learn. We grow. We educate others on their ignorance, and that's the best we can do.”

The school district says to reinforce their commitment to students feeling safe, they are going over expectations for respectful communication with students, providing clear guidance for staff on attendance and student identification, and offering counseling services for students who feel impacted.