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Community questions ICE presence; superintendent says district policy follows OSPI guidance
Summary
A community member asked how the district handles U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on campus. Superintendent Matt Galley said district procedures align with OSPI and legal guidance: ICE may be in public areas, agents must present a valid judicial warrant for any request, and inquiries are routed to district administrators.
Alyssa Moy, a community member, asked the Nooksack Valley School Board on Oct. 16 how the district handles U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) entering school property. "ICE agents are allowed in any public area of the school, as is any other guest," Superintendent Matt Galley said, adding that "if an agent comes onto the property with a request of any kind, they must provide a valid judicial warrant." Galley said all such inquiries are directed to a district office administrator.
Moy also asked whether the district has communicated with local law enforcement; Galley said there has been communication. He acknowledged a recent incident two weeks earlier that "sparked concerns" but said, to the district’s knowledge, it had not directly affected attendance. "Overall, it does feel like a cloud that hovers," he said.
The superintendent framed the district’s approach as consistent with guidance from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and applicable legal counsel. The board did not take formal action at the meeting; the exchange was recorded as part of the communications section of the agenda.
