The Wake County Public School System has issued new immigration enforcement guidance for school principals, now that the Trump administration has lifted its policy protecting schools, churches and other sensitive locations from immigration enforcement activities.
The school system sent a question-and-answer document to principals informing them of rules and legal precedents.
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The district worked with attorneys on writing the guidance.
The district issued guidance back in 2019 as well, and the guidance issued Tuesday expands on it in more detail.
In the document, district officials said federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have the right to enter schools to detain undocumented immigrants if they have a federal judicial warrant to detain someone. That grants “right of entry,” the guidance reads.
It notes that the new order doesn’t specify the difference between “criminals” versus people who may have overstayed a visa.
Without a warrant, according to the guidance, ICE officials generally don’t have a right of entry. In those instances in which ICE officials try to enter without a warrant, the school system advises principals to consult the guidance or seek advice from supervisors.
School officials should not attempt to physically block ICE agents from doing their jobs, according to the guidance. District officials said they were so far unaware of any ICE agents trying to enter a school unannounced.
"The Supreme Court’s Plyler v. Doe decision guarantees all children the right to access a public education, regardless of citizenship status. Our district has always complied with federal and state laws and will continue to do so," reads a statement sent to Wake County families.
The school board has a policy outlining general guidelines on interacting with any type of law enforcement agency, though it doesn’t directly address immigration issues.
During an education forum Tuesday, WRAL News asked lawmakers their thoughts about the change in federal immigration policy.
"Those are law enforcement and federal issues," said Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Macon. "If people are from other countries, they're immigrants and they're here legally, then they have no problem ... If people here have committed crimes here, and/or they're here illegally, then they should go back to their home country."
"Our schools are a safe haven for families; they're a safe haven for students. And I hate that the federal policy of immigration is going to affect that; it's going to threaten our students and our families, that they're not safe at schools, and that really breaks my heart," said Rep. Julie Von Haefen, D-Wake County. "If that community doesn't feel safe, they're not going to send their kids to school."
Natalia Mejia, a multilingual teacher in Cabarrus County, said she all of her students deserve a fair education.
"They deserve to have a sense of belonging, and I'm going to do all within my power to create that sense of belonging for them," she said. "They're very afraid. They're asking questions, 'Should I come to school?'"
Schools focus on student safety amid immigration orders
"Cumberland County Schools is committed to providing a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all students and staff. We are aware of and monitoring possible changes in national immigration policy. As a district, we will follow all applicable state and federal laws and continue to provide educational, social and emotional support to our students and staff. If a situation arises that impacts a student, staff member, or their family, we will rely on government agencies to notify us and, depending on the situation, consult with our legal counsel on a case-by-case basis to ensure the well-being of everyone involved and compliance with the law."Cumberland County Public Schools statement
We know that changes to our federal immigration law have caused angst and fear among our families, students, and staff. We're conferring with our in-house counsel to learn of the law's changes and how it will affect our district so that we may bring assurances to our staff and families, and review protocols with our principals and district leadership. Our aim is to provide regular communication with our leaders, parents, and families to inform and assure as we perform this due diligence.Durham Public Schools statement
To report suspected ICE activity in your area, call or text Siembra NC's hotline at 336-543-0353.
Para reportar sospechas de actividad de ICE en su área, llame o envíe un mensaje de texto a la línea directa de Siembra NC al 336-543-0353.