Protections In Place For Immigrant Banning, Beaumont USD Students

SAN GORGONIO PASS, CA — Amid heightened concern that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could raid schools, both the Banning and Beaumont unified school districts confirmed to Patch that they follow policies prohibiting the release of student information for immigration enforcement purposes — unless a parent/guardian consents or as required to do so by a court order or judicial subpoena.

"We want to stress to all families with children in the Beaumont Unified School District that we are committed to the success of all students and believe that every school should be a safe and welcoming place for all students and their families, irrespective of their citizenship or immigration status," said Beaumont Unified School District spokesperson Thomas Guzowski.

Banning USD spokesperson Angel Mead said, "Banning Unified School District is committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all students. As outlined in Board Policy 5145.13 (Response to Immigration Enforcement), immigration enforcement officers are not permitted on school grounds or given access to student records without a valid judicial warrant, court order, or parental consent."

Guzowski said Beaumont USD's Board Policy 5145.13 and Administrative Regulation 5145.13 are being followed. The policy states, among other things, that district staff must document any verbal or written request for information related to a student's or family's immigration or citizenship status. Additionally, any request must be forwarded to the school superintendent, an affected student and their family.

Beaumont USD staff shall receive parent/guardian consent before a student is interviewed or searched by any officer seeking to enforce civil immigration laws at the school, unless the officer presents a valid, effective warrant signed by a judge or a valid, effective court order, according to the policy. A student's parent/guardian shall be immediately notified if a law enforcement officer requests or gains access to the student for immigration enforcement purposes, unless the judicial warrant or subpoena restricts disclosure to the parent/guardian.

The policy also outlines steps that district staff must take if an immigration officer shows up on a Beaumont USD campus.

The Banning USD has similar protections in place. On Jan. 31, Banning USD Superintendent Terence Davis sent a message to district families, reiterating that all students have a constitutionally protected right to education, regardless of immigration status.

"This right is upheld through multiple legal protections at both the federal and state levels," Davis said.

There have been no reported issues at Banning or Beaumont campuses.

As for local law enforcement conducting immigration raids at Banning or Beaumont campuses, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said in a Feb. 6 video posted to social media that it's not happening.

Immigration enforcement is the federal government's responsibility, and Bianco said any rumors that his deputies are conducting raids at local schools "are simply not true."

The sheriff promised that his personnel would not target schools, businesses, or churches and reiterated that his deputies would not perform "any type of immigration enforcement."

California’s Senate Bill 54, approved in 2017, bars local law enforcement agencies from using public money for immigration enforcement. It also prohibits police from transferring people to immigration authorities except in some instances involving certain violent felonies and/or misdemeanors.

Bianco criticized the law, and said in his video post that he would "continue to fight to reform an extremely dangerous sanctuary state law."

Two days before Bianco's message, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued guidance to students, families, educators, and school officials on how to respond if an immigration officer comes to campus. The guidance also informs immigrant students and their families about their educational rights and legal protections.

Bonta said the guidance helps "ensure a safe and secure school environment for all."

"All children have a constitutional right to access a public education, regardless of their immigration status," the attorney general said. "Schools are meant to be a safe place for children to learn and grow. Unfortunately, the President’s recent orders have created fear and uncertainty in our immigrant communities."

Litigation is amassing over U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to deport large numbers of people who are in the country without authorization. But on Thursday, Feb. 6, the administration sued the state of Illinois, Chicago, and Cook County, Ill., accusing them of obstructing the federal government’s enforcement of immigration laws.

The counties of San Francisco and Santa Clara in California, in addition to King County, Washington, and the cities of Portland, Oregon, and New Haven, Connecticut, took preemptive action on Friday, Feb. 7: They sued the Trump administration, alleging it has threatened and unlawfully targeted sanctuary jurisdictions, according to the lawsuit filed in the Northern District of California.

The plaintiffs say their lawsuit seeks to check the administration's "abuse of power" and asks the court to declare Trump’s actions unlawful and prevent any enforcement.