Grand Rapids Public Schools parents, students and community members affected by federal changes to deportation protocols are continuing their calls for the district to support the area's undocumented immigrants.

Despite not initially being on the agenda, the idea of becoming a “sanctuary city” was a key topic at Tuesday night’s Grand Rapids City Commission meeting.

Concerned residents spoke out at a city commission meeting Tuesday night, requesting Grand Rapids be designated a sanctuary city. It comes on the heels of close to 2,000 emails and letters sent in support of the move over the past week.

Nerida Aviles has been living, working and paying taxes in the city of Grand Rapids with her husband and seven children for 26 years. Aviles, 45, is a Mexican immigrant who said she has not yet received permanent citizenship in the U.

City commissioners on Tuesday will look at requests they’ve gotten to make Grand Rapids a sanctuary city, after close to 2,000 emails and letters were sent in support of the move over the past week. (Jan.