Worcester Catholic Schools Stands By Position On ICE Cooperation

WORCESTER, MA - Amidst a flurry of news coming out of Worcester deportations, Worcester Catholic Schools are holding firm that they will not cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"While I am unaware of any activity involving ICE and Catholic schools in the Diocese of Worcester," Superintendent of Schools David Perda said in a statement, "I wish to remind everyone of the operational procedures already in place to protect your child and their personal information."

Perda listed out several guidelines Worcester's catholic schools follow in his statement, including:

• Not asking for the immigration status of a student or their family.
• Not sharing student records with anyone, except for rare exceptions where a court order or parental or guardian consent is provided.
• Not coordinating with ICE.
• Not allowing ICE agents to access school facilities without a criminal judicial warrant signed by a federal judge.
• Not releasing a student to the custody of anyone other than the legal guardian of record.

The statement comes as Worcester sits in the center of a media blitz after the public schools' transportation department issued a memo directing bus drivers not to stop if they see ICE agents waiting along their route.

The Catholic church has a demonstrated history of welcoming and advocating for immigrant populations to support one another and to pray together as a community," Perda said. "Our Catholic schools have always welcomed students and families from all walks of life."