Immigrant rights advocates in Michigan are taking action to address concerns arising from the Trump administration’s recent changes to immigration enforcement policies. Elly Jordan, an attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC), noted that school attendance has already been affected since the repeal of rules that previously limited immigration enforcement at schools and churches.
Jordan stated that the current climate has created fear among students and families, making them afraid of separation during the school day. The Trump administration’s January decision to remove protected status from “sensitive” areas, including schools, churches, and hospitals, has heightened these concerns.
According to Jordan, MIRC has received reports from communities across Michigan indicating that families are afraid to send their children to school. One school reported a significant drop in attendance following the policy change.
Miriam Aukerman, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU of Michigan, emphasized that children have a constitutional right to education, regardless of their immigration status. She stressed that schools have a legal obligation to protect students’ rights and confidential information.
Aukerman also said the biggest concern children should have when going to school is how they will do on their math test, not that immigration agents will show up to take them away from their family.
In response to the policy changes, the ACLU of Michigan and MIRC sent a letter outlining steps school employees and families can take to protect students. The letter advises school districts to develop plans and procedures, in consultation with legal counsel, to prepare for potential immigration enforcement actions near schools and bus stops. The letter also asserts that administrative warrants, commonly used by ICE, do not grant them the authority to enter non-public school property. Schools are encouraged to seek legal advice regarding any access requests from agents and to only provide legally required information.
Aukerman urged community members to advocate for the adoption of these best practices by their local school boards. She added that targeting kids and families is un-American and it’s crucial to remember that there is power and safety in sticking together and looking out for one another.
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has also encouraged school districts to review the letter with their attorneys. The MDE sent memos to districts reminding them of their legal responsibility to provide public education to all students, regardless of immigration status, and highlighting legal limitations on sharing student information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
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