LULAC, the Nation’s Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization, Condemns Catholic Memorial High School’s Policy on ICE Cooperation and the Termination of Mr. Rico Camacho
Waukesha, WI, November 18th, 2025 – The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) of Wisconsin urges Catholic Memorial High School to rescind the family separation policy which allows warrantless (not judge signed) arrests of students by masked individuals with combat gear on school grounds. LULAC WI also condemns the retaliatory firing of teacher Mr. Rico Camacho for communicating with constituents outside of school hours.
“The immoral family separation policy is not only un-Catholic but violates students’ constitutional 4th amendment rights,” states Jaime Alvarado the LULAC WI state director. “It undermines trust and creates an unsafe emotional environment for Latino students, as well as the bonds and relationships created.” The high school’s estimated Latino enrollment is 24%.
The school’s website boasts a “Caring and Safe Environment…our teachers and administration provide an atmosphere of inclusivity that helps students feel safe and accepted.” It further states “Catholic Memorial High School helps build character with faith-based values that instill a moral compass.” Their family separation policy flies against the values stated and the teaching of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
The USCCB issued an overwhelmingly (96% of 224 bishops) approved “Special Message” directive on Nov 12th, 2025. It states “Catholic teaching exhorts nations to recognize the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants…Human dignity and national security are not in conflict.”
The nation’s catholic bishops further state “We are troubled by threats against the sanctity of houses of worship and the special nature of hospitals and schools.…We are grieved when we meet parents who fear being detained when taking their children to school and when we try to console family members who have already been separated from their loved ones.”
The U.S constitution applies to “all persons”. The Fourth Amendment protects all from searches and seizures by the police or government without a judge signed warrant and based on probable cause. This protects all persons from warrantless searches of them, their home, belongings, business, nonprofits, churches, schools, etc. A judge signed “Judicial Warrant” (not an ICE signed “Administrative Warrant”) must be displayed, properly dated and specify the place to be searched and the person or things to be seized.
LULAC WI condemns the firing of teacher Mr. Rico Camacho, who also happens to be a school alumnus. Mr Camacho is also a City of Waukesha Alderman and the only Latino on the city council. On October 15th 2025, after school hours, the alderman reposted a constituent’s concern regarding ICE activity on social media, which later turned out to be false. He publicly apologized for the error. City individuals in an act of retaliation pursued the persecution of him politically and personally. Unfortunately on October 20th, Catholic Memorial High School succumbed to the retaliatory pressure by firing Mr Camacho on frivolous grounds.
“Families and community members deserve transparency, safety, and assurance that Catholic Memorial High School is committed to lawful conduct and the Catholic values,” says State Director Jaime Alvarado. “We respectfully request a revision to the ICE cooperation policy to ensure alignment with our state and federal constitutional rights, and reaffirm the commitment to provide an atmosphere of inclusivity that helps students feel safe and accepted. We strongly urge a review of Mr. Camacho’s dismissal, an apology, and his reinstatement as a teacher with compensation for lost wages.”
