Albuquerque students urged to skip 'Day Without Immigrants'

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The state's largest school district is urging immigrant families to send children to school despite the national "Day Without Immigrants" protest.

Principals for Albuquerque Public School sent parents a letter this week acknowledging the planned national immigration protest on Thursday. But officials said students needed to be in class every day.

School officials say students who participate in the protest will receive an unexcused absence and will have to make up missed assignments.

The letter also says Albuquerque Public Schools welcomes and supports immigrant and refugee students.

Organizers in cities across the U.S. are telling immigrants to miss class, miss work and not patronize businesses Thursday. "A Day Without Immigrants" protest is meant to show how critical immigrants are to the U.S. economy.