Gov. Ned Lamont and the Connecticut State Department of Education released guidance to all public schools Tuesday regarding immigration enforcement activities.

By Ronni Newton

Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker distributed a document to K-12 public schools in Connecticut on Tuesday, responding to questions and concerns that have been raised about how to respond to immigration enforcement activities in schools, in light of recent changes in policy guidance related to from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security related to “sensitive locations.”

West Hartford Superintendent of Schools Paul Vicinus said Tuesday that the district already has guidance that follows the framework of the state recommendations.

“West Hartford’s policies and procedures are definitely in line with the governor’s guidance, and are what we have historically operated under,” Vicinus told We-Ha.com, and are accordance with all state and federal laws.

On Monday evening, in advance of the release of the document Tuesday, Vicinus sent an email to the West Hartford Public Schools community outlining the policies and procedures that are already in place. Security policies and procedures apply to any visitors to the schools.

The guidance document released by the state on Tuesday, which can also be found below as a PDF, states that it is intended to comply with state and federal laws, including those pertaining to school operations, student privacy, and safeguarding students while they are in school.

Connecticut law, and federal law, protect the rights of students to attend school, regardless of immigration status. Personally-identifiable student information, including family names and addresses, is also protected by the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

“As you may know, school districts have a legal mandate upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court to educate all children living within our district irrespective of their immigration status,” Vicinus wrote in his letter to the school community. “In fact, our schools do not track immigration status. With the new presidential administration’s hard stance on immigration, there has been anxiety in the community about potential visits from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While enforcement action by ICE has always been possible and does happen within public schools on occasion, the likelihood of such actions is rare.”

West Hartford Public Schools, “as a hub of the community, are welcoming to all children and we are charged with their safety and well-being, physically, mentally and emotionally, as well as their preparedness for college and career,” Vicinus said in his letter.

West Hartford Public Schools collaborates with the West Hartford Police Department, and the district will “continue to work with our school leaders in order to support preparedness for any school-based engagement with immigration officials as well as supporting responsiveness to questions from our students or families.”

Vicinus stated that “[w]hile we are a public school, there is a difference between public education and public access.” District procedures for all visitors to schools – which are already in place – have been recently reviewed in light of the new policy, he said, and have undergone legal review. School leaders, as well as front office staff and teachers, are receiving refresher training.

Guidance – from the state as well as from West Hartford Public Schools – indicates that if an immigration agent comes to a school, that person should be required to provide identification, “including their name, badge or ID number, telephone number and business card.”

Agents who may be requesting access are to be asked by a designated official at the school “if they have a judicial warrant to support their request and, if so, to produce such warrant.”

“Administrative” warrants, according to the document shared by the state on Tuesday “are not court orders issued by a United States district judge or magistrate and may not authorize agents to access materials or enter areas where access is restricted to the public.”

The guidance from the governor and CSDE reiterated that all public schools in the state are intended to be welcoming spaces.

“Our schools are primarily places for learning and growth. It is important for our students and families to feel welcome and protected by their schools so educators can focus on teaching and students can focus on learning,” the governor said in a statement.

“Students are at their best when they are in school, fully engaged in learning, and feeling safe and supported by their school community,” said Russell-Tucker.

“As an educational institution, our primary concern always rests with the safety and support of our students,” Vicinus said. “We continue to program and provide resources to support all in our school community. Further, we continue to partner with town and state officials regarding our preparedness and responsiveness to concerns.”

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