Richmond School Board first in region to create ICE response policy
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Richmond School Board this week became the first in the area to adopt a policy change and resolution aimed at preparing for ICE's potential presence.
The big picture: President Trump's executive orders have set the stage for mass deportations and reversed long-standing policies restricting ICE raids in schools, which can cause widespread fear and lead students to skip.
- An RPS spokesperson told Axios there were "significant absences at our schools with large immigrant populations" on Monday, but officials are attributing it to the nationwide "A Day Without Immigrants."
- RPS ombudsman Victoria Gochez told board members more data is needed to "definitively identify the true impact" of federal orders.
Yes, but: The School Board's decision Tuesday creates a public process for what staff should do if ICE shows up.
- And the resolution — which declares RPS a "Safe Zone" — calls for the creation of a Rapid Response Team within the next month focused on what to do if ICE detains a student's caretaker.
- It also asks RPS to make sure the school district isn't collecting data on students' immigration status.
The new policy says: Any ICE request to enter schools should be referred to the superintendent, and staff shouldn't allow them onsite without the principal's permission.
- The principal shouldn't let them in without a signed judicial warrant or subpoena and should document the agents' names and contacts, as well as the names of students they're looking for.
- The student's parents should be immediately told.
- The Superintendent's Office would also notify legal counsel.
Between the lines: Maria Martinez, an RPS parent, told VPM she didn't feel the policy went far enough and said ICE agents shouldn't be allowed into schools, warrant or not.
What we're watching: RPS is establishing dropout prevention and attendance protocols for immigrant students, but it's unclear yet what those will look like.