The court approves the settlement of students suspended via “illegal alien” comments
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The high school student’s free speech battle with the North Carolina school board took an important step towards closing after a court hearing Tuesday.
Christian McGee, 17, was suspended last year after school officials determined that they had made “racially insensitive” comments in their class about “illegal aliens.” The suspension led to a year-long legal battle with the Davidson County Board of Education.
It reportedly reached a proposed settlement between McGee’s parents and the school board last month. On Tuesday, Judge Thomas David Schroeder of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of North Carolina ruled that the proposed settlement was “fair, reasonable and in the greatest interests of (Christians).” press release He was released on Wednesday by a legal representative of a student at the Liberty Judicial Center.
The school reportedly agreed to remove the racial bias case from McGee’s records, issue a public apology, and admit that former board members had responded inappropriately to the case. Although additional terms of the contract are sealed, the New York Post reported that the family is also expected to receive a $20,000 payment.
The high school student’s free speech battle with North Carolina school districts is one step closer to closing after this week’s court hearing. (Getty Images)
Because the student is a minor, legal organizations said a court hearing was required to complete the settlement.
The teenager was suspended for three days in the spring of 2024 after returning from the toilet and asking teachers if their class conversations were centered around “spaceship aliens” or “illegal aliens requiring green cards.”
A Latino student who attended the class reportedly “joking” that he intended to “kick” the “Christian A-.”
Leah, McGee’s mother, who was behind the legal push for the district, said, “Fox and friends“Last year, my family tried to settle “a few weeks” personally, but was forced to file a lawsuit after a lack of response from the school board.
A North Carolina high school student was stopped and accused of making racially insensitive comments after using the phrase “illegal alien” in his classroom. (Getty Images)
The lawsuit accused the school board of infringing constitutionally protected rights to free speech and legitimate procedures.
“The court’s approval represents an important step in ultimately establishing Christian constitutional rights and clearing records of false claims,” Dean McGee, senior advisor at the Liberty Justice Center, said of this week’s ruling.
16-year-old Christian McGee was suspended in 2024 after using the term “illegal alien” in her class. (‘Fox & Friends’ screen glove)
McGee’s parents said they were grateful and celebrating a legal victory.
“We are grateful Liberty Justice CenterLeah and Chad McGee said, “a exhausting effort to bring justice to our son, who chose to work with us, and to our current school board members who chose to work with us,” and “With the help of our community, we have proven that our constitutional rights don’t end with the doors of the school building. We are celebrating this victory and hope that other families will stand firm in the face of adversity.”
The Davidson County Board of Education did not immediately return a request for comment.
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Taylor Penley of Fox News contributed to this report.