Metro Atlanta Parents, Students Push for School Policy Protecting Students From ICE: “Students Deserve to Start the Year Without the Fear…”

Several people came out to Monday night’s DeKalb County Board of Education meeting to discuss a proposed policy regarding immigration enforcement.

Students, parents and community activists are hoping the board enacts the policy before the first day of school in August.

The proposed policy restricts law enforcement or other government agents from questioning or removing a student from campus, obtaining student information or accessing non-public areas of school property without proper legal authority.

According to the policy, unless there is an immediate threat to the health or safety of students and staff, a judicial warrant, court order or other legally binding document issued by a court of competent jurisdiction would need to be presented and then reviewed by the District’s Office of Legal Affairs before access is granted.

The policy also says nothing in it will be construed or applied in a way that violates state or federal law requiring compliance or cooperation with lawful law enforcement activity or lawful requests for information.

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Back in February the DeKalb County School District posted a statement on the district’s website following a resolution that it had passed.

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The statement also said the district does not ask for or collect immigration status, maintains strong protections for student records and has established procedures for responding to law enforcement activity.

DeKalb County’s next Board of Education meeting will take place on August 10.