RALEIGH, N.C. — As the Trump Administration ramps up deportation efforts, there are growing concerns among parents about whether U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s operations could impact their local school districts.
There have been no reported ICE operations at any North Carolina schools. But the Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent confirmed this month that a 15-year-old boy was pulled from a car and handcuffed outside Arleta High School in northern Los Angeles.
Spectrum News 1 reached out to Wake County Public School System and Durham Public Schools for comment on how the school districts were preparing to address those concerns. A spokesperson for WCPSS confirmed it has not issued any additional updates to parents and directed us to a statement it issued earlier this year.
“Our district has always complied with federal and state laws and will continue to do so. We are equally committed to ensuring our schools remain safe and welcoming spaces for all students and families,” WCPSS said in the statement. “Additionally, our district does not ask for or record information about the immigration status of any family. We will continue to honor all laws protecting the privacy of student records as outlined in board policies.”
Anthony Lewis, superintendent for Durham Public Schools, said in a statement to Spectrum News 1: “We recognize that recent changes to federal immigration laws have caused uncertainty, worry and fear for many of our students, families and staff. Please know that the safety, dignity and well-being of our school community remain our highest priority.”
“While our district is carefully reviewing these changes with our legal counsel to fully understand their impact, we want to assure our community that we have not experienced any ICE raids or investigations. In the unlikely event that such an incident were to occur, we would expect and advocate for mutual respect of established protocols and standard operating procedures between our district and federal agencies,” Lewis said.
Earlier this year, both DPS and WCPSS issued immigration enforcement policies responding to the Department of Homeland Security extending operations to schools and churches.
Spectrum News 1 asked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to confirm whether families could expect the agency to conduct investigations at any of the state’s local school districts and whether the agency is taking a specific approach to how it deals with these cases.
ICE spokeswoman Lindsay Williams responded in an email, “As a matter of policy and operational security concerns, [the agency] does not discuss future operations.”
El Centro, an organization working to provide socioeconomic resources to Hispanic and Latino communities, said it’s working closely with residents across North Carolina communities to prepare them if a situation such as an ICE raid or investigation occurs in their district.
“It becomes a health concern. Nobody wants children to be worried in school, because if they’re worried, then they’re not thriving,” said Emilia Ismael, with El Centro. “They’re not focusing on studying and their academics, and just developing socially.”
Ismael said that through their education department, families can take advantage of resources to learn about their constitutional rights. “We also have case management so that a specialist in case management can help them create a roadmap,” Ismael said.
Ismael encourages families, regardless of immigration status, to consider developing a family preparation plan, and for any residents, not just those of immigrants, to visit or call the organization if they have questions.
