Denver School Board Approves Policy to Protect Students from Immigration Enforcement
The Denver School Board unanimously adopted a new policy aimed at safeguarding students from immigration enforcement actions during school hours and events. This crucial decision signals a strong commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all students, regardless of their immigration status.
The policy outlines specific guidelines for the Denver Public Schools (DPS) superintendent, emphasizing that federal immigration officers are not permitted access to school property, records, or surveillance footage without a valid judicial warrant. Additionally, it prohibits the interrogation, detention, or removal of students by federal officers without appropriate judicial backing and prior authorization from a DPS attorney.
Crucial to the policy is the insistence on protecting students’ rights. It ensures a parent or guardian’s presence during any search, interview, or inquiry conducted by federal immigration authorities. Moreover, the policy restricts the collection or disclosure of information regarding a student’s or family’s immigration status unless mandated by legal requirements. School resource officers, who are part of the Denver Police Department and work within schools, are also prohibited from communicating or sharing student information with federal immigration enforcement.
This policy emerged from extensive discussions and revisions since its initial proposal by Board President Shoshitl Gaitan in February. It reflects growing concerns voiced by Latino community groups who have felt increasingly threatened by heightened immigration enforcement across the nation.
“Immigrant students and students with immigrant connections are not coming to school because they are afraid,” shared North High School student Lydia Lopez during a board meeting last month, underscoring the urgent need for such protective measures. Board members expressed gratitude for the advocacy efforts of community organizations, particularly highlighting the contributions of Movimiento Poder, a longstanding group in Denver.
Throughout the revision process, some members raised concerns that earlier proposals might overreach. For instance, they eventually decided to remove a contentious clause that would have restricted school resource officers from ticketing or arresting students if such actions might lead to deportation risks. This decision stemmed from the recognition that school officials do not always have access to students’ immigration statuses and that existing agreements with the Denver Police Department already limit resource officers’ roles in routine school discipline.
Additional provisions were also trimmed from the proposed policy. These included safeguards against immigration enforcement at school bus stops, which officials deemed impractical to implement, and clauses regarding the collection of information about employees’ immigration statuses, necessary for compliance with federal work visa regulations.
This policy applies to both district-operated and charter schools within the DPS framework, reinforcing the district’s commitment to immigrant student support. Previously, DPS pursued legal action against the Trump administration to maintain policies that protect educational environments as safe spaces. However, after a legal review, the district discontinued the case, finding little substantive difference between its initiatives and the federal guidelines initiated by the previous administration.
The newly adopted policy serves as an important amendment to the existing student conduct policy known as Enforcement Restrictions 10, which delineates the rules directed by the Superintendent.
Melanie Asmar serves as the Bureau Chief for Chalkbeat Colorado. For any inquiries, she can be reached at masmar@chalkbeat.org.
