Valley school districts ‘monitoring’ Trump immigration aim at campuses

Editor's note: This story was added to Thursday morning with comments from Deer Valley Unified School District.

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Some of the largest Valley school districts are taking a a wait-and-see approach with a controversial directive from the new Trump administration aimed at allowing immigration officials to conduct operations on school campuses.

Benjamine Huffman, acting director at the Department of Homeland Security, on Tuesday voided a 2021 policy enacted by the agency’s prior director that made enforcement of immigration laws off limits in certain “sensitive locations.” These included health care facilities, religious institutions, playgrounds and schools.

The approach would now allow immigration officials to pursue those allegedly here illegally in schools.

“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesman shared in prepared comments.

The directive could allege that students on campus learning in classrooms are “criminals” who “hide.”

At some of the Phoenix area's largest school districts, representing tens of thouands of students, most officials say they are talking with attorneys and examining the order.

"As a school district, our focus is on educating students,” Dysart Unified School District spokesperson Renee Ryon stated in an emailed statement. Dysart Unified serves more than 23,000 students in parts of El Mirage, Glendale, Surprise, Youngtown, and Maricopa County. “We are monitoring and seeking legal counsel for guidance on how changes to federal policy may impact our school community."

Peoria Unified School District, which serves students across 34 schools throughout Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, and Youngtown, is monitoring it as well.

“We continue to monitor all changes at the federal and state level that may impact our school district,” Peoria Unified spokesperson Danielle Airey shared in an emailed statement. “At this time, it is too early to tell how the recent policy change regarding immigration enforcement will affect our 35,000 learners and their families. While we await more information, we remain focused on providing a safe and positive educational experience for every student in our district.”

Officials with Deer Valley Unified School District, which serves 34,000 students throughout 42 schools in Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Anthem, New River, Cave Creek, and Maricopa County, are taking a similar approach.

"We have no plan to do anything differently at this time," a DVUSD spokesperson shared Thursday.

A statement from Mesa Public Schools, the largest district in the state, said officials will continue to educate all students. A 1982 U.S. Supreme Court case, Plyler v. Doe, ruled school districts must educate all students regardless of immigration status.

"Our schools are caring and safe places that welcome all learners," MPS officials said in a statement. "We do not require proof of immigration status as part of our enrollment process and we fully comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which requires us to maintain the confidentiality of all personally identifiable information in education records related to students. We will not disclose student information, even to law enforcement officials, without parental prior written consent, unless compelled to do so by a judicial order or a lawfully issued subpoena. In these circumstances, families will be informed immediately, unless we are legally prohibited from doing so."

In the Chandler Unified School District, officials mirrored those in Mesa saying they did not ask students for immigration status.

"Every time there is new legislation, we review the legislation with legal to ensure our policies comply," according to the statement. "We continue to follow the laws and policies that guide the operations of our schools. Therefore, our process hasn't changed for educating students that are enrolled in our schools. Immigration status does not factor into school enrollment. School staff does not inquire or collect information or records about a student’s immigration status or that of their family members. School districts and staff are required to maintain the confidentiality of all personally identifiable information in education records related to students under FERPA. Any and all records, including emails, student files, and personnel information are generally exempt from disclosure unless parents' consent to the release of those records or court orders mandate they be released."

Chandler officials said if they learned that a member of a student's family is impacted, they "have practices in place that keep us focused on the student’s well-being. Our priority is and always will be to care for and educate the students enrolled in our schools."

At Gilbert Public Schools, officials said they are keeping abreast of all new laws and orders and work to make sure they are following all legal requirements.

"The safety and wellbeing of all our students is a top priority and our campus teams work diligently to ensure student needs are supported and our campuses are safe environments," the district said in a statement. "When policies and laws change at a state or national level we work directly with our legal team to ensure our schools are following current legal guidelines and requirements."

Richie Taylor, press aide to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, told Howard Fischer with Capitol Media Services that he had no clear advice for what actions school officials can or should take to deal with immigration raids.

“First, consult with their legal counsel before moving forward with anything,” Taylor told Fischer, adding that schools should also be “communicating with parents about these possibilities.”

Arizona State Superintendent Tom Horne, a Republican, told Capitol Media Services that he opposes the new Trump administration directive.

“People would stop sending their kids to school,” Horne told Capitol Media Services, saying they or their parents might be afraid. Even if a child was brought to this country illegally, “it’s not their fault,” Horne said.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.