ICE Policy For Radnor Schools: Board Of Ed. Looks To Keep ICE Agents Out

RADNOR, PA — The Radnor Township School Board advanced a measure designed to keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents out of schools and out of students' records.

The "Welcoming Schools" policy is designed to promote a safe environment for all students, regardless of immigration status. It would also clarify regulations to prevent school staff from complying with ICE when it's not legally required.

School board members voted 8-0 to approve the measure on first reading at March 24's meeting. It will become district policy if passed on second reading at a future meeting.

The measure was discussed during March 10's Policy Committee meeting. Mainly, it would help clarify rights that are already in place, according to Board Member Jannie Lau.

"A lot of times, we’re human," Lau said. "We are trained to comply and to treat authorities with a certain level of respect. But I just want people to understand that they only have to do what’s required by law and they shouldn’t inadvertently give their consent when it’s not necessary and certainly when we do not intend to give it."

To access school property, ICE agents need a judicial warrant — not just an ICE administrative warrant — Lau says.

The district also has a memorandum of understanding with Radnor Police, which governs the district's relationship with local law enforcement.

In July, the Radnor Township Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to prevent local police from entering cooperative agreements with ICE.

If that policy were to change and Radnor Police cooperated with ICE, there wouldn't be much the school district can do, Lau says. But she doesn't see the township policy changing anytime soon.

The "Welcoming Schools" policy also clarifies safeguards if ICE agents request student records. The district is required to follow the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) — the federal law that limits access to children's education records.

"If ICE demands addresses of students, the district must comply with FERPA as they do anyway," Lau said.

The policy calls on district administrators to create detailed protocols for handling immigration authorities. It also mentions that interfering with the agents legally exercising their authority would remain prohibited.

It would apply not only to ICE but other immigration agencies, such as Customs and Border Protection.

Watch March 24's School Board meeting below: