Immigration Enforcement in Schools

In a past article, “ICE Provides Formal Guidelines on Courthouse Arrests of Immigrants”, we discussed that on February 1, 2018, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced formal guidelines on how ICE agents will conduct arrests in courthouses.

We further discussed that ICE has a policy to not arrest immigrants in “sensitive locations”; including schools, medical care facilities, religious institutions, or public demonstrations; unless the agents obtain supervisory approval or there are emergency circumstances. Finally, we advised that such a restriction does not apply to courthouses, and explained how the formal guideline on courthouse arrests would impact undocumented immigrants.

The Department of Homeland Security has stated that the “sensitive locations” guidance remains in effect and has not changed. Even so, increasingly, education and childcare professionals report that the currents harsh approach to immigration enforcement is having a negative impact on the education of the children in the U.S. Specifically, educators report student absences, decline in academic performance, and less involvement from parents as some the adverse impacts on immigrant students.

There is no question that harsh immigration enforcement has impacted America’s schools, but rather how policymakers and citizens alike can find a way to balance immigration enforcement against our children’s education.

If you should have any questions or need more information about the way that the Illinois Trust Act may impact you, or your family, or your friends, please contact the Law Offices of Azita M. Mojarad, P.C. by e-mailing us at azita@azitalaw.com, or by calling us at 312-641-0771, or by visiting our website at www.azitalaw.com.