Prairie State Wire

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has issued new guidance on how schools should handle immigration enforcement actions on their premises. This non-regulatory guidance outlines steps for schools to prepare for potential enforcement actions under the Trump Administration.

The document emphasizes the right of students to receive public education, irrespective of their or their parents' immigration status. It also discusses the discretion schools have in responding to various immigration enforcement requests and encourages districts to develop policies regarding cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders stated, "As leaders of public schools, we have both a legal and moral obligation to protect our students' rights within our buildings." He added that ISBE believes schools should be safe havens where students can learn without fear.

The guidance suggests several measures for school boards and superintendents when formulating policies about ICE interactions:

- Schools should adopt clear administrative guidelines detailing procedures if immigration personnel attempt an enforcement action or request information.

- A designated point person or department should be established to manage ICE personnel upon arrival on campus, potentially involving a legal office or superintendent.

- Another point person or department should handle records requests from ICE and maintain records of such requests for future reference.

- School policies must be communicated to all staff members who might be present on campus.

- Student data-sharing policies need regular updates and must be accessible to faculty, staff, and third-party contractors.

- Staff training is essential for proper policy implementation.

- Parents are encouraged to keep emergency contact information current.

- Schools are advised to prepare policies for situations where a student's parent may be detained or deported.

ISBE has made this guidance available on its website along with Know Your Rights resources from immigrant advocacy groups.