SAN ANTONIO – Some parents are raising concerns about the safety of undocumented students in schools after the Trump administration’s executive order that has allowed federal agents access to school campuses.
The San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) estimates that approximately 3,000 students in the district are undocumented, according to deputy superintendent Patti Salzmann.
“We have provided our principals with guidance on how to handle situations where federal agents may arrive on campus,” Salzmann said. “We are bound by federal law, which prohibits us from sharing confidential information unless agents present the proper documentation.”
SAISD has instructed staff to only share information that they are legally required to, so the district can be compliant with court orders. Salzmann emphasized that schools are not open campuses where law enforcement can come and go freely.
If federal agents were to show up at a school, Salzmann said she and district police would be contacted.
“If valid documentation, such as a subpoena, is provided, the district is required to make reasonable efforts to notify a parent before complying with the request,” Salzmann said.
Despite these measures, the district said it has seen a noticeable decline in student attendance. Salzmann said it is unclear if this is due to fears of federal enforcement or other factors like illness or cold weather conditions.
While on-campus counselors have been added to assist children dealing with fear or uncertainty. Salzmann expressed additional concern about how these issues could affect students' education.
“The children and families are scared and they don’t come to school,” Salzmann said. “And the children have interrupted school and they don’t have the education they deserve and are constitutionally entitled to.”
In a related incident, SAISD’s Crockett Elementary recently had federal agents at its campus.
Salzmann confirmed that the agents were there on a Sunday when no students were around and multiple law enforcement units parked at the school without district permission.
The deputy superintendent said she does not believe that the incident was an enforcement effort at one of SAISD’s schools.
KSAT reached out to the North East Independent School District and the Northside Independent School District about the potential of federal agents appearing at those districts’ schools.
North East ISD:
I want to address recent changes to immigration policies and how that may impact our District. Recently, it was announced that the Department of Homeland Security reversed a policy that limited arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at locations, such as schools, hospitals and places of worship.
I realize this announcement has created anxiety and uncertainty for many of our families. So, I want to provide some clarity on North East ISD procedures.
First, consistent with existing Supreme Court law, we educate all students, regardless of their citizenship status. We do not ask about immigration status, nor do we maintain or collect any data on that. It is irrelevant to our mission of serving students.
ICE, like any other law enforcement agency, must check in, show identification and provide proper documentation. We are familiar with complying with subpoenas and/or warrants from our local police departments and governmental agencies, and ICE will be handled in the same manner.
Just this week, the San Antonio field office director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations said that his team has no intention of targeting sensitive locations unless an especially dangerous criminal is inside. If ICE does execute a warrant at one of our campuses, we will promptly alert parents to ensure against misinformation.
Please take a moment to double-check your contact information. If you need to update your email address, emergency contacts or phone number, you can easily do so by logging into Skyward Family Access.
If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your home campus or our District office. NEISD is committed to working with our families and staff members to maintain a safe environment for everyone in our schools and comply with applicable law.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sean Maika
NEISD Superintendent of Schools
Northside ISD:
As a Texas public-school district, NISD is statutorily required to educate all students in a non-discriminatory manner, regardless of citizenship status. NISD prides itself on being an inclusive school district for all students, staff and the communities we serve.
Our district will continue to comply with State and Federal Laws. In addition, we will adhere to Local and Legal GRA Board policies which provide guidelines for district personnel when addressing requests from law enforcement officers or other law enforcement authorities. The policies clearly outline procedures for how our campuses will address potential interactions with law enforcement authorities.
When necessary, NISD will consult with counsel regarding immigration matters that include subpoenas or other law enforcement agency requests.
