LOCAL DEPORTATION

The adage that it can’t happen here seems fitting in this case. Although details are scarce, we learned in late April that a graduating student, a woman from India, at the renown Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, was deported as part of the federal immigrant push taking place nation-wide. School officials were reluctant to speak about the issue, with one official responding by email, “Please understand that we cannot comment on any student matters for privacy reasons, in accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).” Unofficially, from multiple sources, including others graduating at the end of the school year, we were told that the deported student had artworks on display at an annual event the academy hosts and was assured that if any of her works sold at the event, proceeds would be forwarded to her. Our attempt to gather further information from federal officials proved fruitless.