Friends, in 1978 I started a career in education. My early school years included fire drills. Forty-seven years later schools now conduct fire, tornado, earthquake, and active shooter drills. Today, a retired educator who has friends who work in a suburban district near a large city forwarded me the following email that was sent to all staff. Regarding:
Responding to Immigration Enforcement
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide you with some guidance regarding issues related to possible immigration enforcement. Some of you have raised concerns about how you as school staff need to respond if Immigrations Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials should appear at your schools.
It is important to remember that schools are safe places for our students and staff. For that reason, as staff, we need to maintain a calm and professional demeanor if faced with staff from ICE.
Please keep in mind the following:
1) Gather as much information from the official as you can. This information should include the following:
- Name and agency affiliation
- Contact information
- Purpose of their visit
- Any documentation, such as a judicial warrant, and make a copy if possible
2) School staff should inform school administration if you are approached by ICE. Your school administration should contact the assistant superintendent who directly oversees your school.
Do not do the following:
- Confirm the presence or status of any student or staff member
- Provide information about students or employees
- Grant access to the building or facilities. You may have them come to the office but that is as far as they should go.
- Engage in future discussions beyond the initial questions.
4) Local police will not be involved in this enforcement unless there are criminal violations; therefore, we should not see our local police engaged or involved in any such raids.
5) District administration and legal counsel will manage communication with the officials and provide clear instructions on the next steps.
6) Any requests for student records will be handled by district administration. No school staff should provide any student records to officials under any circumstance.
7) If you are questioned by your staff or by parents or students, you can say something like: “Our schools are considered ‘sensitive spaces,’ meaning immigration enforcement actions are generally prohibited except under extraordinary circumstances. We take every measure to protect the rights and privacy of our students and staff.”
This Isn’t About Politics
I don’t start this conversation to talk about politics. My point is not about policies or politics but rather the nearly impossible circumstances that public school staff face. Now they must not only prepare for invasion by a deranged individual with a gun but also the potential invasion of their schools by the government! All while being expected to create a nurturing learning atmosphere where students can be successful and feel safe.
Regardless of political affiliation, we share collective responsibility for our schools’ issues. We’ve allowed these challenges to evolve by refusing to put our own self (adult) interests aside on behalf of kids. We should all be ashamed that responding to immigration enforcement is even a concern in the schools.
God bless all those individuals who work in our public schools.
If you need help building policies and getting your school prepared, contact me for help. I will not disappoint you. My price is based on PROJECT not hourly.