Central Texas school districts respond to threat of ICE raids
Central Texas school district response to ICE raids
Central Texas school districts are updating their guidance and providing resources after President Donald Trump changed the rules to allow ICE agents to enter schools.
AUSTIN, Texas - At least eight large public school districts across the country have vowed in recent days to try to protect undocumented immigrant students and their families from President Donald Trump's mass deportation push.
Austin lawmakers believe they should be off limits.
What we know:
In Trump's first week in office, he changed a rule that had been in place since 2011.
Immigration enforcement can now happen in churches, hospitals, schools, weddings and funerals. Places that were originally off limits.
All children in the United States, according to the Department of Education, are entitled to a public education, regardless of their immigration status.
This allows public school districts to largely avoid asking about or keeping records of their students' standing with immigration laws.
What are Central Texas school districts doing?
Several Central Texas school districts said they will have space for students regardless of their background of immigration status.
Manor ISD's outside law enforcement guidelines state:
There has been a lot of news lately about immigration and customs enforcement being allowed to enter schools.
That does not mean that every district, or campus will receive an ICE visit.
If the school district does get a visit from ICE, they will be treated like any other law enforcement agency.
The district will ask for a badge or law enforcement ID.
They will then contact a school resource officer or Manor ISD police.
The agent will have to show any paperwork and the district will make a copy for the board of education's attorney to review.
The district said the immigration status of its students or families does not change their obligation to educate.
Austin ISD officials said they're monitoring any legal changes that might impact "student experience."
Their website states: If law enforcement arrives on campus, they will verify the paperwork is valid before allowing them to perform the action authorized.
The district also said, in the event a student's parent or guardian is taken into custody, they would work to notify another guardian for that student.
If they can't, then the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services will be contacted.
What they're saying:
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett said the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have caused fear, and discouraged people from going to church, as well as disrupt school operations.
"I'm all for removing criminals," Doggett said. "Persons who've been ordered by a court to be removed from our country and their immigration status denied. But I don't think these broad drag nets really make us safer. In fact, they probably encourage some to not report crimes or to be witnesses for the police to crimes."
Immigration attorney Thomas Esparza said you are not required to reveal your immigration status.
"You do not have to communicate with them," Esparza said. "You definitely do not have to tell them your immigration status. Now, that being said, if you have an immigration status, tell them. You know, my name is so-and-so, I have, you know, the document expired, but I renewed it. Tell them what's going on. Don't make it a bigger deal than it has to be, because the brief, the briefer the encounter, the less likely there's going to be collateral damage."
What you can do:
Austin ISD has compiled a list of resources for parents and staff on their website.
The Source: Information in this article comes from Austin ISD, Manor ISD and FOX 7 interviews.