Rights of Undocumented Students and Protocols for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Access to Schools

RECITALS

A. The Sunstone Montessori School Board is committed to the success of every student. We believe that every student has the potential to achieve great things and to make substantial contributions to their communities, and it is the responsibility of our program to give each student the opportunity and support to meet their highest potential.

B. The Board believes that providing a safe and inviting learning environment for all students and their families is paramount to students being able to achieve. To that end, Sunstone Montessori School does not and will not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, or bullying

C. This safe and inviting environment would be disrupted by the presence of ICE or DHS Officers who come on to Sunstone Montessori School property for the purposes of removing students or their family members, or for obtaining information about students and their families.

D. The Board further believes that our students’ ability to achieve is negatively impacted by the removal of their family members during ICE or DHS raids that leave students without supervising adults to care for them, and that Sunstone Montessori School should have in place policies and procedures to protect and care for such students until a guardian or other designated adult is contacted, and that all teachers, administrators, and staff should be trained on such procedures.

RESOLUTION

  1. Any ICE or DHS Officer intending to enter Sunstone Montessori School property must first notify the Head of School, in person, of its intention to search the premises, with adequate notice so that the Head of School can take steps to provide for the emotional and physical safety of its students and staff.
  2. The Head of School is authorized to ask for the ICE and/or DHS agent’s credentials, ask why he or she is requesting access, and verify the legal validity of their request.
  3. ICE and/or DHS Officers must provide a valid warrant or court order instructing them to enter the property and for what purpose. The Head of School is authorized to deny access to non-public areas and information that are not included in the scope of the warrant’s search.
  4. Sunstone Montessori School staff shall not ask about a student’s immigration status or that of the student’s family members, and pursuant to FERPA and relevant law, shall not disclose, without parental consent, the immigration status of any student or personal information.