Board attorney: Pinellas schools will 'follow the law' on immigration-enforcement visits; contact legal and local police

At the Jan. 27 meeting, the school board attorney addressed questions about how Pinellas County Schools would respond to visits from immigration enforcement officials.

"We will follow the law," the attorney said, summarizing district guidance: if an immigration enforcement representative appears at a campus, school-based staff should contact the area superintendent and the legal department; the district has contact procedures in place for after-hours calls. The attorney said the district would involve the Pinellas County Schools Police Department and would evaluate any paperwork presented by outside agents to determine legal authority. He added that in most years the district has had no visits from immigration enforcement and that if legal process such as a subpoena is required, the district would seek to require one when lawfully appropriate.

The comments were offered as context for ongoing public concern; board members thanked the attorney for providing guidance and for describing processes that balance legal obligations with protecting students’ rights.