Across the country, education officials are developing plans to protect students and their families from immigration enforcement since President Trump rescinded guidelines that prevented immigration arrests in and around “sensitive” locations, including schools.
Since the recent policy change, there have been no reports of ICE raids at schools in Rhode Island or across the country. However, in preparation, the state’s attorney general and education commissioner have released guidance for schools, including what documentation agencies need to be allowed inside a school and how much information schools are required to provide.
“While we do not yet know if federal authorities will conduct operations targeting Rhode Island schools, this guidance is intended to assist schools, teachers, and administrators in protecting the rights of every student,” Attorney General Peter F. Neronha said in a shared statement with Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green.
The director of a Providence charter school told WUN, “The commissioner has provided resources to schools” and has “advised to be prepared, but keep a low profile. We will follow the law. However, the safety and security of our students is critical. We need to seek legal advice and stay secure in the event of a visit.”
On January 20, the Department of Homeland Security issued a directive that ended a decades-old policy—introduced by the Biden Administration—that prohibited Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations in areas where “children gather, disaster or emergency relief sites, and social services establishments.” As a result, immigration authorities can now legally enter healthcare facilities and places of worship.
Thomas DiPaola, executive director of the RI Schools Superintendents Association, emphasized that immigration enforcement must still comply with federal and state privacy protections. For example, districts have a minimal list of people to share a child’s personal information with.
“If you were to ask me about a child attending a particular school, I really wouldn’t even be able to confirm or deny that that child was enrolled in our school,” DiPaola told WPRI News 12.
State law also requires districts to have safety protocols that include allowing only authorized individuals to access non-public areas of a school. According to Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, schools can prohibit federal law enforcement officers without an official judicial warrant or court order from entering.
In general, the Trump administration has sent unclear and mixed messages about how federal agencies enforce immigration laws across the country. As a result, the ongoing immigration raids—along with misinformation and rumors of such raids—are spreading fear and panic in vulnerable communities.
In the past two weeks, there have been numerous reports that ICE agents have conducted raids, arresting undocumented immigrants and citizens without a warrant. The current administration also faces issues such as data collection without consent and detaining people without probable cause, which could prompt legal battles, according to Newsweek.
Concerned parents and students should contact local school officials, community resources—like Progresso Latino, Dorcas International, and The Immigrant Coalition of RI—or the Office of the Attorney General at 401-274-4400 with any questions.
Additional information and related resources include:
- Frequently asked questions for school officials: what to do if ICE shows up at your school, Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM)
- Guidance on Immigration Issues, National Education Association
- Can ICE go into public schools in Rhode Island? Here’s what we know. The Providence Journal
This story is an aggregate of Can ICE go into public schools in Rhode Island? Here’s what we know (The Providence Journal), Schools preparing for ICE … in case (WUN), and Is ICE Targeting Schools? What We Know (Newsweek).