Chicago Public Schools Won't Help ICE Agents Enforce Immigration Laws

CHICAGO, IL — Days after Chicago Public Schools pledge to share Chicago's commitment to being a sanctuary city for immigrants, CPS officials told parents Tuesday that school administrators, faculty and staff would not help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents or let them on school grounds enforce federal immigration laws.

"Many of you have inquired about the protections in place to safeguard your children at school," said a CPS statement outlying the district's policy concerning the federal immigration agency. "We assure you that CPS will not permit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to access CPS facilities or use CPS personnel to assist in the enforcement of federal civil immigration law."

Officials instructed CPS principals Tuesday to bar any ICE agents from entering schools unless they had a criminal warrant, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. If agents have a warrant, it should be given to the CPS Law Department, and the agents should wait outside the school while the district reviews the document, the report added.

English and Spanish palm cards from the National Immigrant Justice Law Center also were made available to CPS families. The cards offer tips about how to deal with federal immigration agencies and can be downloaded from the CPS website.

These preparations by CPS officials are a response to President Donald Trump's administration efforts to broaden its deportation policy. On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security said it would add as many as 10,000 more agents to step up deportations and enforce immigration laws with the potential to remove undocumented immigrants for even low-level offenses, such as driving without a license.

RELATED: Trump Immigration Policy: Hire Thousands Of More Agents To Deport Millions

"As we continue to explore new opportunities to better support you and your children, we want you to know that our schools are safe for all students regardless of their race, ethnicity or country of origin," CPS' statement said. "We know that some families are concerned about sending their children to school at this time, but we firmly believe that the safest and most beneficial place for your children is a classroom alongside their fellow students where they can work toward a bright future."

Officials won't disclose the number of CPS students who are undocumented immigrants, the Sun-Times reports. They also are unaware of anytime in the past that ICE agents have tried to enter schools, the report added.

More via the Chicago Sun-Times

image via Chicago Public Schools

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