In North Carolina, family members of high school students suspended for using the term “illegal alien” are set to receive a $20,000 payment, along with a public apology, according to a proposed settlement. Reports indicate that the agreement aims to remove instances of racial bias from the records of Christian McGee, now 17, and includes compensation intended to cover tuition costs at his new school.
This settlement, however, still requires judicial approval. A motion was filed recently by Dean McGee, who represents Christian and is affiliated with Liberty Judicial Center, to finalize the agreement.
He mentioned that since Christian is a minor, a court hearing is necessary before the settlement can be made official. Although Dean expressed his anticipation for further statements after the hearing, he noted that this is a significant step toward clearing Christian’s name.
To provide some context, Christian faced a three-day suspension last year after a classroom incident where he wondered aloud whether discussions were about “spaceship aliens” or “illegal aliens needing green cards.” The situation escalated following comments made by another student that school officials deemed racially insensitive.
Christian’s family has fought for over a year to challenge the suspension, as his mother Leah had been a vocal advocate for justice in this matter. She discussed her frustrations publicly, recounting how the suspension affected Christian’s participation in important track meetings and the lack of response from the school board to her inquiries.
Dean McGee also pointed out that the term “illegal alien” is defined in dictionaries and does not inherently carry racial connotations, which is a critical aspect of the lawsuit focused on Christian’s rights and the school’s actions.
As of now, the Davidson County School District has not yet commented on the proposed settlement.
