Residents, teachers urge Alachua County School Board to require warrants or parental consent before ICE interactions at schools

Dozens of parents, teachers and students used the public comment period at the Alachua County School Board meeting on March 12 to press the board to bar Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from questioning or removing students on campus unless they present a judicial warrant or parental consent.

Speakers described fear, traumatic impacts on learning, and requests for specific protections. "When ICE is allowed in schools, it doesn't only affect undocumented students," parent David Flores said. "All children, our children, regardless of their immigration status, experience fear, anxiety, and distress when they see their classmates, their friends and best friends, and even their own family members being targeted." Several teachers and staff asked the district to issue clearer guidance and…