ADVOCACY LETTER TEMPLATE TO KEEP ICE OUT OF SCHOOLS

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Every child deserves to start the school year focused on learning — not live in fear of being taken by ICE.

School-grounds nationwide have become sites of anguish, the cause of nightmares for kids and adolescents who fear the threat of a rogue militarized force emboldened to target them in once-sacred spaces of learning.

This tool supports parents and community members across the country can take action and demand that their school districts implement “Safe Schools” policies.

Subject: Urgent Need for a Policy to Protect All Students from Immigration Enforcement on Campus

Dear [Superintendent Name / Recipient],

I am writing as a concerned [student / parent / guardian / community member] of the [School District Name] to urge you to develop and adopt a clear public plan to ensure that all children—regardless of immigration status—are safe from immigration enforcement on school grounds.

Our public schools must be safe havens for learning. Immigration enforcement activity on and around school campuses creates fear, trauma, and disruption that harm not only undocumented students but the entire school community. The Supreme Court has long recognized, in Plyler v. Doe (1982), that all children have the right to public K-12 education, regardless of their immigration status. Without a strong district policy, that right is undermined.

I call on [School District Name] to adopt and publicly post a “Safe Schools” policy that includes, at minimum:

  1. No Warrant, No Entry: Unless there is a judicial warrant, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other immigration enforcement agents ought not be allowed on school grounds. ICE warrants are merely agency directives and do not satisfy the same legal need as a judicial warrant.

  2. No Voluntary Cooperation with Immigration Enforcement: School staff must not share student or family information, allow interviews, or permit immigration agents on campus without a valid judicial warrant reviewed by the district’s legal counsel.

  3. Identification Requirement: All visitors to the school should identify themselves. Record their name, badge or ID number, and phone number, and request a business card for additional verification.

  4. Training for All Staff: Annual training on how to respond to immigration enforcement attempts and protect student privacy under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Ensure all staff are aware of the differences between ICE and judicial warrants, understanding that ICE warrants do not authorize entry into schools and are not issued by a judge.

  5. Clear Protocols: Step-by-step procedures for principals, teachers, and security staff if immigration officials request access to school grounds or student information.

  6. Language Access in Communication with Families: Notification to parents and guardians about their rights, in multiple languages to ensure clarity and cultural competency, along with reassurance that schools are safe spaces.

By adopting such a policy, [School District Name] will send a clear message: every child belongs here, and every child is safe here.

I ask that this matter be added to the agenda of the next school board meeting and that the district commit to a transparent process for developing this plan with input from students, families, educators, and immigrant rights advocates.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your response and to seeing our district take a stand for all children.

Sincerely,
[Name]
[Role in the community—e.g., Parent of two students at ___ Elementary]