COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- After President Donald Trump removed federal restrictions that limited Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from conducting raids in schools, hospitals and places of worship, some central Ohio school districts are working to reassure their students.
Both the state of Ohio and individual public school districts offer protection for immigrant students. Westerville and Columbus City Schools both used resources to remind staff and families of those protections this week. At least one other district said they would send resources to families by the end of the week.
In a letter from CCS to staff obtained by NBC4, the district is offering training for staff about immigration official procedures. Per its policy, visitors do not have permission to access school grounds without permission from the Office of General Counsel, who will have to review any warrant, subpoena or court order.
Man found dead on Southwest Side unidentifiedFamilies in Columbus schools are asked to update their emergency contact information and all district staff, students and families are encouraged to be aware of their rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution, which are applicable regardless of immigration status. Westerville families were similarly encouraged to update their contact information, seek guidance from local resources and create a family plan in case of an immigration incident.
“All students have a right to public education, and the United States Supreme Court has confirmed that all students, regardless of their immigration status, may not be denied this constitutional right,” Superintendent Angela Chapman said in a letter to district families. “Therefore, our CCS families should know that Columbus City Schools are and will continue to be a safe place for all students.”
Under Plyler v. Doe, a Supreme Court case from 1982, it was determined immigration status cannot stop children from attending public school. According to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, schools are only permitted to share students’ personal information when required by law or when given permission by the family. Schools are not allowed to ask families their immigration status, nor can they require immigration documentation or Social Security numbers.
How Husted backed Ohio school choice, religious programsIf a family does choose to share information with the school, the school must protect private information “that could put a student or family at risk,” the Department of Education and Workforce said. This protected information includes immigration status, student identification documents, where students were born, family information and information about where students attended school before.
The Department of Education and Workforce, did not clarify how many students are immigrants, but nearly 80,000 students in Ohio are English Learners, making up 4.65% of all students. These students use their rights to learn English at school if they need extra support.
Schools must check students’ English fluency within the first 30 days a child is enrolled at school through the Ohio English Language Proficiency Screener. Families have the right to choose if they want their child to receive English language instruction, and they also have the right to receive interpretive and translation services if English is not their first language.
Although NBC4 has received tips about immigration enforcement in the area, local officials and law enforcement said they are unaware of any ICE raids in central Ohio. NBC4 sister station WJW of Cleveland reported at least 58 ICE detainees from northeastern Ohio are being held near Chardon.
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