On Friday afternoon, Marblehead Interim Superintendent John Robidoux shared a message with families on how the district would handle any situation involving ICE (immigration and customs enforcement).
ICE raids have been sweeping the country since returning President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act which requires the detention of illegal immigrants who have been involved in criminal activity.
“The law mandates the federal detention of illegal immigrants who are accused of theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, and any crime that causes death or serious bodily injury,” stated The Department of Homeland Security.
As raids have been increasing, so has the conversation around Marblehead involving the protocol if ICE were to make a stop by any of the schools. Robidoux shared a flyer with four topics surrounding protecting students and their information.
In the email, Robidoux stated, “I had already provided principals with the guidance that if ICE agents show up at our schools, they are to contact me directly and I will address the specific situation with guidance from legal counsel.”
“There are very specific steps that need to be followed and we will ensure that our students are safe and that their education is not disrupted in the very unlikely event that agents do arrive at any of our schools,” Robidoux continued.
The first bullet on the flyer states “All children are entitled to a free public education. Avoid school policies that discourage or deny access to school based on immigration and citizenship status.”
Beneath the main point, it states schools must provide equal access to education regardless of immigration, they must revise enrollment policies to only require necessary information like age and residence, and districts should accept a range of documents not only a government-issued ID.
Bullet number two explains the steps to take if ICE is requesting access to students or their information. It instructs sending the ICE agent to the district’s central office, for the superintendent to contact the district’s legal counsel, and inform the student’s parent or guardian.
If a warrant is presented the legal counsel is to check if it is a judicial warrant, order, administrative arrest, or removal warrant. An administrative warrant does not authorize entry into non-public places, including schools. If it’s a judicial warrant, a court order, or a subpoena, the legal counsel is to determine the scope of the search or arrest authority.
The third bullet includes the protection of student information under the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and the Massachusetts Student Records and Regulations. This section explains both the Act and the MA regulations specifically on what can and cannot be done by ICE officials.
Finally, the flyer explains ways to share the resources with students and families through precautionary actions, reviewing school policies, and supporting students if needed.
The expanded version of the flyer can be found here for more in-depth guidance.
More information can be found in the office of the Attorney General.
