Local Districts Release Statements on “Safeguarding the Rights of Immigrant Students at School”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — After President Donald Trump ended a policy that restricted federal agents from making immigration arrests at schools, local districts have been publicly affirming their support for New York State’s official guidance on “Safeguarding the Rights of Immigrant Students.”
The Saratoga Springs City School District stated on its website last week that “recent changes and discussions surrounding immigration policies may cause uncertainty and concern for families within our community. We have provided our administrators and staff with the New York State guidance all school districts received regarding safeguarding the rights of immigrant students.”
The guidance instructs school personnel to only allow local or federal law enforcement to question a student if a law enforcement official has: issued a warrant providing court-authorized access to the student; received consent from a parent or guardian; or if the student is accused of committing a crime on school property and school district personnel invite law enforcement to investigate. If these criteria are not met, guidance says that officers should not be allowed to speak to a student on school property.
“Our district is dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for every student,” the message on the Saratoga School District website said. “If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact your child’s school building.”
The Ballston Spa Central School District posted a similar message to its site earlier this week, adding that the district has “shared the advice from our attorneys with all of our principals and administrators about their rights and responsibilities when law enforcement officials, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, come to school seeking to question a student on district property.”
The Migration Policy Institute estimates that 733,000 school-aged children live in the United States without legal status.
Of the decision to allow law enforcement access to schools, Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman said in a statement that “this action empowers the brave men and women in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens—including murders and rapists—who have illegally come into our country. Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”
According to NBC News, a White House spokesperson said on Jan. 28 that no ICE raids had occurred in any schools. The spokesperson told NBC that “secondary supervisor approval is also needed before any action can be taken in locations such as a church or school.” The spokesperson added that such situations are expected to be “extremely rare.”
A Siena College poll released on Monday showed that nearly 80% of New York voters supported deporting immigrants living in the country illegally who have also been convicted of a crime. But only 39% supported deporting immigrants living in the country illegally who have not been convicted of a crime.