Union County School Board hears public concerns about ICE access; superintendent says no current plans

Dozens of residents, students and faith leaders urged the Union County Board of Education on Feb. 11, 2025, to adopt clear protocols to protect immigrant students after recent changes in federal immigration policy prompted community concern.

The appeal began during public comment when Dan Ochlander criticized the board’s earlier public remarks and urged officials to prepare administrators to verify warrants and protect students, saying: "When asked to allay concerned parents' fears, you told them to figure it out themselves. This is wholly unacceptable." Several other speakers echoed that request for written guidance and training.

The nut grafs: The concern centered on whether federal immigration agents (ICE) could seek access to students on campus and what steps school staff should take to verify legal documents and protect student privacy. Speakers cited specific district policies and said administrative guidelines were missing. The district’s superintendent and assistant superintendent responded that the district has existing policies and that legal counsel would review…