If ICE Comes To School: NJ Issues Guidelines For Educators, Staff

NEW JERSEY — As President Donald Trump has promised an immigration crackdown that could affect hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents, officials are sharing way that schools can keep immigrant students and families safe.

The Trump administration announced Tuesday it would allow federal immigration agencies to make arrests at schools, churches and hospitals, ending a policy that had been in effect since 2011.

In new guidance released Wednesday, New Jersey education officials advise schools to do their best to protect their immigrant students, while also adhering to state and federal law.

"Every child deserves the right to attend school without fear," Gov. Phil Murphy said.

Tuesday’s move to clear the way for arrests at schools reverses guidance that restricted two federal agencies — Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection — from carrying out enforcement in sensitive locations.

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said: “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.”

An estimated 733,000 school-aged children are in the U.S. illegally, including 31,000 in New Jersey, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Many more have U.S. citizenship but have parents who are in the country illegally.

The NJ Department of Education added a page to its website with suggested protocols for schools if an ICE agent seeks to come onto school grounds or access school records. This includes getting the agent's information and any documents that authorize them access to the school, and immediately contacting the superintendent.

"It is vitally important for school officials to obtain a copy of any judicial search or arrest warrant, court order, or subpoena and present it to your district legal counsel before taking any action in response to immigration officials," the guidance reads.

Schools are also not required to share information about students' attendance or location without consulting with the superintendent or district legal council.

All local school districts in New Jersey must enroll students regardless of their immigration status, per state and federal regulations, and the Department of Education encourages districts to have systems of support in place for students and families. The DOE is "unwavering in its commitment to ensuring that every student, regardless of immigration status, national origin, or religion, can attend public school safely,” the document states.

Immigrant rights groups push back

About 440,000 undocumented immigrants are living in New Jersey, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Several municipalities in New Jersey have declared “sanctuary” status, including the state’s largest city, Newark.

Meanwhile, as the countdown to inauguration day continued, immigrant rights groups in New Jersey have been putting up red flags about the impact that mass deportations would have across the state. Read More: NJ Immigrants Need More Protection From Trump, Activists Tell Governor

A major immigration sweep took place in North Jersey the week before Trump’s inauguration, with U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officers in Newark arresting 33 non-citizens who have committed or been accused of crimes.

ICE officers said they targeted “noncitizens” who had felonies or misdemeanors for domestic violence, sexual abuse or exploitation, burglary, unlawful possession or use of a firearm, drug distribution or trafficking, and driving under the influence.

Officers also targeted noncitizens with an executable final order of removal who have re-entered the U.S. illegally after having been previously removed, authorities said. See Related: Newark ICE Office Makes 33 Arrests, Deportations Loom

After Trump’s first day in office, the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice (NJAIJ) – which has been helping to spearhead the resistance effort in the Garden State – launched a “Know Your Rights” campaign in nearly two dozen cities and towns.

Outreach has been taking place in municipalities including Newark, Jersey City, Passaic, Hackensack, Perth Amboy, Kearny, Paterson, Trenton, New Brunswick, Elizabeth, Plainfield, Garfield, Union City, Bayonne, Linden, Clifton, East Orange, Sayreville, West New York and Fort Lee.

“Advocates have warned for months that the Trump Administration would make good of campaign promises to enact mass detentions and deportations on Day 1,” the coalition wrote. “In his inaugural address, Trump doubled-down on those pledges, declaring a national emergency at the Southern border with intentions to mobilize military resources and personnel without congressional approval, and reinstate the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy.”

The NJAIJ said Trump and his supporters are leading people on a wild goose chase by playing on their fears.

In its guidance, the New Jersey Department of Education also shares trauma-based resources for students who may be impacted by deportation and separation, and on how to talk to children about these issues.

This article contains reporting from Patch's Eric Kiefer.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.