Waukegan school district hosts "know your rights" immigration presentation; district schedules follow-up meeting

Belany Contreras, an immigration attorney with the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, told parents at a Waukegan CUSD 60 community presentation that immigrants whether documented or not should know their rights when encountering federal immigration agents and how schools and employers can limit exposure to enforcement actions.

The presentation, held at a Waukegan school and introduced by school board director Oscar Dupuy, covered what constitutes a judicial warrant or probable cause, what ICE agents may and may not do at homes, workplaces and school sites, and steps families can take to prepare, Contreras said. "Es importante que conozcan los derechos de inmigrantes, si es alguien que tiene estatus o no," she said.

Contreras outlined practical guidance: ask agents for a judicial warrant and review it before opening the door; do not sign documents you do not understand; exercise the right to remain silent; do not present false documents; and keep original immigration documents stored safely at home. She explained federal immigration forms she said parents commonly encounter: the Form I-94 (arrival/departure record), Form I-9 (employment eligibility verification) and Form I-765 (work authorization). Contreras also described relief types and programs by their common names — asylum, DACA, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) — and said eligibility details depend on an individual’s history and filings.

On school-site protections, Contreras said Illinois law allows certain locations — including schools, clinics and houses of worship — to deny access to agents when the school knows an outside agency has an agreement with ICE; she advised staff to verify whether visiting law-enforcement personnel have jurisdiction or an agreement in place. "Hay una ley aquí en Illinois donde dice que lugares como las escuelas, las clínicas, quizás hasta las iglesias tienen el derecho de no dar acceso a autoridades que trabajan o tienen contratos o acuerdos con ICE," she said.

Superintendent Teresa Plasencia, who attended the meeting, urged that audience questions remain general and said the district is preparing a safety plan and written communications for families. Plasencia told attendees the district will send instructions on updating emergency contact information in Infinity Campus, and will distribute materials from the presentation online. "Vamos a mandar comunicación a las casas de los familias ... Vamos comunicar mucho con ustedes," she said.

During a question-and-answer session parents asked about whether to carry a consular ID, whether children can be left at home, and what happens if ICE returns after an initial visit. Contreras advised that consular IDs (matrícula consular) are foreign-country IDs and recommended carrying U.S.-issued identification when possible; she said people should keep copies of important documents and the contact information of a lawyer. On children, Contreras emphasized avoiding leaving young children unattended and recommended caregivers prepare an emergency contact and custody or guardianship documents when appropriate.

District officials and an unnamed board member said schools have controlled-access procedures: visitors must ring a buzzer, be verified by office staff and pass through secured doors before entering. A board member said the district reviewed a policy stating that a student will not be released from school without an appropriate order and that parents should be notified when possible.

Organizers said the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic has expanded in recent years — Contreras cited 84 cases in 2015 versus about 2,438 cases in 2023 — to illustrate local demand for legal services. Contreras also distributed bilingual "know your rights" cards and said the clinic runs citizenship and work-permit workshops.

The district scheduled a follow-up meeting for Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at the same location and said it will post the presentation online. Attendees were told to update Infinity Campus contact information so the district can reach families in emergencies.

Less critical details: Contreras warned of possible federal changes affecting DACA and TPS under a new administration and said processing delays and increased immigration-court referrals were possible. She recommended consulting an accredited immigration attorney for case-specific advice and cautioned against relying on notaries.