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District 209 presenter tells families schools are safe from federal immigration enforcement and shares ‘know your rights’ resources
Summary
At a multilingual parent meeting, a district staff member summarized guidance from district leaders that federal immigration agents may not enter school grounds without a valid judicial order and distributed multilingual “know your rights” materials and legal referral information for families.
Nora Delgado Bergen, a member of District 209’s new multilingual department, told parents and caregivers at a BKAC meeting that district leaders have emphasized schools should remain safe spaces for students and families. “Esta presentación se va a presentar en español,” Delgado Bergen said as she opened the bilingual session and explained many resources would be available in both English and Spanish.
Delgado Bergen said the district’s superintendent has advised families that federal immigration enforcement agents do not have the right to enter school buildings without a valid judicial order signed by a judge. She said the district does not ask families about immigration status and will not share student records with federal immigration agencies unless required by a court order.
The presentation included practical “know your rights” materials: a red card parents can show to assert the right to remain silent, request an attorney, and decline consent to a search. Delgado Bergen demonstrated how families can present a judicial order under a door or window rather than allow agents into a home and explained that the district encourages families to contact building administrators with concerns about activity near school grounds.
The presenter also pointed attendees to an online resource hub (QR code provided during the meeting) with downloadable materials in multiple languages, and she cited a state-level message referenced in the presentation urging that public schools be safe, welcoming places for all students. Delgado Bergen advised families who need legal help to use local free legal services and a support hotline offered through the resource coalition referenced in the meeting.
Meeting participants asked questions and named community concerns about increased enforcement activity near detention centers and the effect of enforcement on student learning and staff ability to teach. Delgado Bergen and a school social worker present offered to share the slides and the resource links after the meeting so families could distribute them to neighbors and caregivers.
The session was a presentation and community information event; no formal district policy change or vote occurred during the meeting. Attendees were encouraged to contact building administrators if they observe troubling activity and to use the distributed materials and legal hotline for immediate help.
