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Board reviews draft immigration-enforcement policy following new state law

Carroll County Board of Education · November 13, 2025
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Summary

Staff presented a draft JIHA policy to comply with new state law requiring local boards to adopt immigration-enforcement procedures; the policy would mirror existing police-on-campus protocols and was sent out for public comment ahead of a December action item.

Legal counsel and system staff briefed the board on a proposed new policy (JIHA) addressing immigration-enforcement presence on school property at the Nov. 12 meeting. The briefing followed the General Assembly's enactment of a bill referenced in the transcript as "HB 12 22," and guidance from the Attorney General that requires local entities to adopt consistent policies.

Mr. O'Neil (legal counsel) explained the draft is intended to make any immigration-enforcement process "least disruptive" to instructional operations, parallel existing code-of-Maryland-Regulations guidance for police on campus and protect student and staff privacy where appropriate. The policy would apply to both staff and students when immigration authorities are on school premises and would establish protocols for school-site staff to meet and coordinate with enforcement officials in a discrete area rather than in classrooms or public spaces.

Board members asked clarifying questions about whether the policy applies to students and staff (yes) and about prior experience — counsel said the district has not had ICE activity in schools but routinely coordinates with local law enforcement on in-school police activities. Staff said the draft policy will be published for public comment and returned for board action in December.

The board did not adopt the policy on Nov. 12; staff recommended that the board review the public comments and finalize the language in December.