It’s a normal day. You are sitting in your class, surrounded by the slightly dusty smell of classmates whispers and fresh pencil sharpeners. You wonder if your parents will put your best friend to sleep, so your teacher is simply explaining the mathematical equations she wrote on the board. It’s a school night, but your birthday is approaching. Maybe this once they’ll make an exception.
Until it suddenly doesn’t, it’s a normal day. Your name will be called by the speaker. In the middle of the class, you will be called to the principal’s office. There, you find immigrants and customs mandatory agents waiting to talk to you about your immigration situation. You say very little about this issue – it’s up to them to see whether the principal can obtain permission from your parents before talking to you. If you are arrested, will your family be notified?
While no arrests have been reported at schools in Florida, President Donald Trump’s 2011 order prevents interviews, arrests, searches and surveillance at sensitive locations such as schools, churches, churches and churches. After withdrawing the state’s surrounding areas are seeking possibilities. hospital. Miami-Dade schools are already feeling the effect after losing a teacher detained from campus.
The past week has sparked rumors that a Melbourne High School student has been arrested, and fears have already begun to swirl in Brevard about an ice attack at the school. According to Melbourne police, the rumors were unfounded.
However, Michelle Morton, a lawyer for the ACLU in Florida, said that while no arrests have occurred, the threat of the attack has already affected Florida immigrants.
“The underlying (previous policy) is the idea that there is a balance between enforcing the Citizen Immigration Act and ensuring that there is no lower class for those who are too afraid to go to the hospital. . To school,” Morton said.
“It’s been removed, so that’s the kind of impact we’ve already heard of. There are communities reporting that they’re so afraid they can’t send their kids to school.”
Based on a 1990 court case between the state board of education and many other parties, including the United Latin American Citizens’ Federation, Florida school districts have asked students to ask for immigration status when enrolling in schools. yeah. Additionally, the district is not permitted to refer students to ice or deny student educational services based on immigration circumstances.
The 1990 ruling helped provide a framework for how Florida comply with federal and state laws regarding the education of students of English learners.
Although each school district shares many similarities, it handles slightly different possibilities for ice activity. Florida today is Brevard, Orange, Volusia and St. We looked into guidance provided in public school districts in Lucie, Osceola and Seminole counties. This is what we know.
What happens when ice appears?
All districts require employees to verify the identity of ICE agents when they come to school. You can do this by asking for a badge, photo ID and business card.
Ideally, school administrators would request ice to be provided to the ice with a warrant signed by a judge before permitting it on campus.
“If that policy is in place, there may be far less ice on campus, so we don’t see much of an impact,” she said. “But it really depends on how the school is getting closer.”
Six Florida school districts did not speak today to counties in Brevard, Orange, Seminole, Volsia and Osceola counties requesting ice warrants for ice to enter school campus. I want to access student records.
Brevard also requires ICE agents to check in and sign out at the school front office so that other visitors do so in accordance with district school visitor policies.
What happens when an executive wants to interview a student?
All districts tell employees that its ICE may interview students, noting that Orange County may do so without a warrant.
All policies require administrators to try to allow the child to speak to law enforcement authorities to grant consent to the parent before the interview is conducted. However, if law enforcement says that the school may not contact parents, the district agrees that the employee will “comply.”
Guidance from multiple districts says managers should stay in the room while they ask questions. Brevard did not provide specific instructions on what to do in this scenario, but everyone else should be able to leave the room and allow law enforcement to ask questions to students. That’s what I said.
What happens if a student is arrested?
In all counties except Brevard, parents should be notified immediately if a child is arrested. Brevard states that the policy is responsible for law enforcement to inform parents.
St. Lucy and Osceola County guidelines say law enforcement could instruct school employees not to notify their parents of an arrest. If that happens, employees will need to document law enforcement instructions. St. Lucie employees must notify the legal department, while Osceola employees must refer the questions to law enforcement from their parents.
What happens if my parents are arrested?
Most policies don’t address what to do if a child’s parents are arrested, but in Seminole County, school principals notify them if parents are in custody but students are not. You need to. If a student does not have another legal guardian or documentation, delegating parental responsibility to another individual must contact the Florida Children and Family Department.
What happens if a teacher is arrested?
No guidance was provided on what to do if teachers were arrested based on immigration circumstances.
The Miami-Dade teacher was recently taken into custody from a campus that he “thought to be another regular immigration hearing,” according to the Florida Education Association, the state’s largest association of professional employees.
“In the next few days and weeks, one child in our neighborhood public school will no longer be able to learn from their favorite teachers,” the FEA in a statement provided to news media on Friday. I’ve said that. “The community will no longer be uninspired by valuable educators, and the families of affected people either feel the ripples of these behaviors long after, or that their memories have driven away this news. Masu.”
St. Lucy, Volsia and Seminole counties must either comply with law enforcement orders, or tamper with arrest or obstruction of law enforcement officers, or face arrests or other legal consequences. provided.
If officers have a warrant or subpoena, that’s true, Morton said.
“If it’s not a legal order, there’s no legal to comply with it,” she said. “If there is a warrant signed by a judge, if there is a subpoena signed by a judge, the officers clearly have the authority to order it. If they don’t have it, the ice will be on campus. I don’t have any special authority.”
What rights do students have?
According to a memo issued by the Department of Homeland Security in January, immigrants could be deported without meeting a judge if they are unable to prove they have lived in the United States for at least two years.
The National Center for Immigration Law proposes carrying two years of evidence of residence. He says that if you are arrested, showing it to the police officer will help prevent you from being deported without first meeting the judge.
“(Children) should be calm, not lying, they should be loud and say out loud that they want to remain silent and that they want a lawyer,” Morton said. “It’s really hard because kids are taught to follow the adults they meet.”
According to the NILC, immigrants, including children, are not required to remain silent and answer questions about immigrant status. One of the leading advocacy organizations in the US that advocates for immigration rights, the group suggests obtaining an attorney before answering questions. They also recommend that you display valid immigration documents when asked, as the law requires immigrants who have valid documents at all times to carry them.
If an immigrant, including a student, is arrested, the NILC suggests not signing the document without speaking to an attorney. They also recommend asking detainees to call their families, write down the names and phone numbers of the deportation officer assigned to the case, and the alien registration number.
Finchwalker is a Florida education reporter today. Please contact Walker at fwalker@floridatoday.com. X: @_finchwalker.
