At least eight big public school districts in the U.S. have recently promised to help undocumented immigrant children and their families during President Donald Trump’s efforts to deport many people.
The Trump administration has lifted rules that stopped Immigration and Customs Enforcement from doing raids at sensitive places like schools, churches, and hospitals.
According to the Education Department, all children in the United States have the right to a public education, no matter their immigration situation. This means that public schools do not usually ask about or keep track of students’ immigration records.
Trump’s recent steps to change policies about sensitive areas have caused worries for teachers and families. School systems are now working to lessen the impact of these changes.
This is especially true in big cities that lean Democratic and have many undocumented immigrants. These cities have sanctuary policies that stop local officials from working with federal immigration agents to help undocumented immigrants feel safe.
Several big public school districts in those places have promised to make it difficult for federal immigration authorities. They will do this by confusing cooperation with these authorities or not sharing information with them and by making it tougher for them to enter school property.
On the more forceful end are Chicago and Denver, whose big public school districts have issued advice in recent weeks that urges officials to prevent immigration officials from entering school grounds or to set high bars for entry.
Last week, Chicago Public Schools stated that according to the city’s sanctuary city laws, called the Welcoming City Ordinance, ICE agents cannot enter CPS facilities without showing their credentials, explaining why they want to enter, and having a criminal warrant signed by a federal judge.
“CPS will not allow ICE agents to enter based on an administrative warrant, ICE detainer, or any other document from a group enforcing civil immigration laws,” the statement said.
Chicago Public Schools said that although there is an executive order to change the rules about “sensitive locations,” like schools, district officials will not share private information with ICE.
Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero told school officials this month to deny entry to government officials who come to school buildings without a reason or a meeting.
Marrero’s advice says that if a government official comes to your school asking for information or trying to enter without a meeting or a reason to be there, do not let them in.
Officials must put the school in a safe lockdown and talk to government officials using the intercom. The guidance states that when government officials are in the school, workers must stay in the front office and put the school on lockdown.
School leaders should request a warrant or a court order. According to the instructions, government agents should be sent to the district’s attorney, regardless of whether one is available or not.
The guidance, however, also tells school officials to “not physically impede, interfere with or obstruct a government official in performing their duties.”
Marrero stated in a follow-up on Friday that the advice was created considering Trump’s decision to change rules about sensitive locations.
Scott Pribble, a spokesperson for Denver Public Schools, said in an interview on Monday that their approach to ICE agents is the same as for anyone who arrives at a school. They make sure the person has an appointment or a reason related to school, and if not, they ask them to stay outside.
“We’re treating any government official who comes here the same way,” Pribble said.
Some of the biggest school districts in New York, like New York City Public Schools and others in Westchester County, have recently shared guidance from Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James. This guidance tells school officials not to let police officers onto school grounds to see students, unless it’s for an urgent safety issue or if they have a legal warrant or order.
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