Court Approves Settlement After North Carolina Student Suspended Over ‘Illegal Aliens’ Comment
A federal court has approved a settlement between the Davidson County School Board and 17-year-old student Christian McGhee, who was suspended last year for asking if an in-class reference to “aliens” meant “spaceship aliens or illegal aliens.”
His three-day suspension in spring 2024 sparked a legal battle over alleged violations of his free-speech and due-process rights.
U.S. District Judge Thomas David Schroeder ruled the proposed agreement was “fair, reasonable and in the best interest” of Christian, clearing the way for its implementation. Under the terms, the school district will remove a racial bias notation from his record, issue a public apology, and acknowledge that a former board member responded improperly. While additional settlement details remain sealed, reports suggest the family will receive $20,000.
The lawsuit, filed by the Liberty Justice Center, claimed that Christian’s constitutional rights were infringed after school officials deemed his uneventful question “racially insensitive.” According to court records, the suspension was imposed without a formal hearing or appeal process.
Christian’s mother, Leah McGhee, expressed relief at the resolution, selling it as a win not only for her family but for broader student rights. School officials have not commented on the settlement.
The case highlights ongoing tensions in U.S. educational environments over the balance between free expression and school discipline, particularly in racially charged contexts.
With input from Fox News.
