District Protocol in Response to Possible Interaction on District Property with Immigration Officials

Schools should ensure all students and families feel welcome and respected, regardless of their immigration status. Schools are encouraged to refer students and their families to community resources, as needed. Do not offer legal advice. Instead, encourage students/families to consult with experts

Ensure staff are trained—especially clericals, security and administrators—on the protocol for engaging with immigration officials.

Suggest that families develop a plan for care and custody of a student in emergency situations including:

• Designating a trusted family member or other adult who can pick up their children and care for them in case the parent/guardian becomes unavailable due to arrest, detention, hospitalization, or some other reason.
• Making sure the most up-to-date and accurate contact information is on file with the school for the trusted family member or other adult and other emergency contacts.
• Talking with their children, in an age-appropriate manner, about those emergency plans.

No, consult with the Office of General Counsel before sharing any information with law enforcement.

ICE needs a Judicial Warrant to enter a school, except in limited circumstances. ICE can operate anywhere that is open to the public (“public spaces”).

School buildings are not public spaces. Access to a school building is only available to persons who are invited or authorized to be there.

 Accordingly, ICE may not insist on access without a judicial warrant or state or federal court order.

• Contact the building administrator who will contact the Senior Director of Operations/Chief of Schools.
• Central office staff should contact their supervisor and respective cabinet member.
• Ensure only authorized individuals are admitted into the building.
• Do not attempt to interfere with lawful activity conducted on public property.

1. Ask for the caller’s full name and identifying information including badge/credential number as well as supervisor name and supervisor number.
2. Share that your employer doesn’t give you authority to provide information or to consent to this sort of request and that requests for information should be directed to the Office of General Counsel.
3. Provide contact information for the Office of General Counsel (313) 873-4528.
4. Notify your building administrator or department leader and respective cabinet member and have them follow the protocol to notify the Office of General Counsel of the request. 

Remember, the District can only consent or not consent to ICE activity on property that is owned by the District. If asked, inform the questioner it is the policy of our bus contractors to comply with law enforcement agents. This includes boarding a bus.

If this happens, DPSCD will be alerted, and we will then notify impacted families. 

The District does not collect, nor are families required to provide any immigration status information.

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), school systems cannot release information in student records without parental consent, unless a specific legal exception applies.

FERPA does permit schools to disclose “directory” information without parental consent, but parents/guardians or students who are 18 years old may “opt out” of disclosure of this information by completing the opt-out form.

1. Reach out to the student’s emergency contacts listed and try to make sure the student has adequate supervision and care before releasing the student at the end of the school day.
2. Only release students to authorized contacts.
3. Schools should also convene support and crisis response teams and connect students impacted by immigration enforcement actions with counselors, social workers, and other related service providers.

Consistent with our regular practices, voluntary absences (e.g. without a doctor’s excuse) are unexcused.

Families interested in the Virtual School should speak with their current Principal and/or school counselor to identify if virtual learning would be a good fit for their students. Families can also contact the Virtual School directly for information and to apply for enrollment.

Follow regular protocols and attempt to reach any authorized emergency contacts. If emergency contacts cannot be reached, contact DPSCD Public Safety. Encourage families to provide up-to-date contact information and emergency contact information in the event a parent or guardian is unavailable.

It’s important to not attempt to provide legal advice to students or families without approval from the Office of General Counsel.

Any information that is approved to share with families will be provided by the Office of Schools who will consult with the Office of General Counsel to determine what is appropriate.

Organizations such as the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (www.michiganimmigrant.org) provide useful and vetted legal resources for immigrant communities.

Schools must complete WIDA testing during the regular testing window. While we understand families may have concerns about attendance during this time, state requirements for testing remain unchanged. Our schools will work with families to complete testing while being sensitive to their circumstances.

Under the law, limited or “exigent” circumstances are emergency situations that create a threat of death, injury, or destruction of property/evidence.

Limited/exigent circumstances include but are limited to hot not limited to hot pursuit of a fleeing suspect, bomb threat, preventing physical harm to others, preventing destruction of evidence or to prevent a suspect’s escape.

Limited/exigent circumstances apply when an officer has reasonable grounds to believe that an exigency is occurring. Once inside a building, this allows an officer to take action to resolve the emergency and/or seize evidence in plain view. A warrant is required for additional searching not related to the emergency.