In the midst of an immigration crackdown by the Trump administration, Coronado Unified School District has instructed staff that any request for information or access to school grounds from law enforcement authorities must go through district leaders.
In an effort to ensure school employees are informed and equipped to perform monitoring responsibilities of students and school sites, the district issued an “internal document” with guidelines on Jan. 22.
The district said those guidelines, as is standard procedure, ensure its operations are within the law. The district did not confirm if a document of this kind was circulated prior to the current White House administration.
The memo says information on students “shall not be disclosed to immigration law enforcement authorities without parental consent, a court order or judicial subpoena” unless release is authorized under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
This action follows a Department of Homeland Security directive rescinding Biden Administration guidelines that limited immigration enforcement in so-called “sensitive areas,” such as schools and hospitals.
“The Department of Homeland Security has designated schools and colleges as protected areas where immigration enforcement should be avoided as much as possible,” says the district memo. “While Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection have a policy of not conducting enforcement at schools except in certain circumstances, school staff should be prepared for such visits.”
The document emphasizes withholding personal information without proper legal authorization and limiting access to campuses. If “exigent circumstances” require an officer’s access to a school site or other facility, the procedures advise staff to “document the officer’s actions while on campus.”
Earlier this month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued similar guidance for school officials statewide.
“My office is committed to ensuring our educators have the tools and knowledge they need to respond appropriately if immigration officers come to their campus – and that immigrant students and families understand their rights and protections under the law,” said Bonta in a statement. “I encourage schools to keep our office apprised of immigration enforcement occurring on their campuses by emailing immigration@doj.ca.gov.”
