DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – The Detroit Public Schools Community District’s immigration policy requires employees to immediately notify the parents of any students being sought by federal immigration enforcement.
School officials have recently supported the policy – adopted in 2019 and revised in 2021 – after the Donald Trump administration made deportation of illegal immigrants a priority.
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The Detroit Public Schools Community District describes itself as a “Sanctuary District” in the policy.
The policy states that district personnel shall not inquire about or record a student’s or a family member’s immigration status or take action that “may chill access to public education.”
It also states that school administration must approve any access to school sites and district facilities to immigration law enforcement officials.
The policy says: “School personnel must not allow any third party, including, but not limited to, officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs Border Protection (CPB) or federal immigration enforcement agencies access to a school site or District facility without a request submitted to the building-site administrator and approved by the Office of the Superintendent and General Counsel. The building or site administrator shall not permit Third Party access to the school site that would cause disruption to the learning environment.”
School employees also must “immediately” notify the superintendent and general counsel as well as any parents or guardians of students involved if approached by ICE or CBP officials.
The district also reviewed its practices to make sure no data is required to be collect with regards to a student’s immigration status.
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