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PGCPS committee recommends new policy restricting school staff and SROs from immigration-enforcement functions
Summary
The Policy and Governance Committee voted 4-0 to recommend a new 'Interacting with Immigration Enforcement Agents' policy to the policy sponsor; the draft, based on House Bill 1222, expands the definition of school property, prohibits SROs from performing immigration-enforcement functions, requires staff training and adds shelter-in-place procedures.
The Policy and Governance Committee on March 10 recommended that Prince George's County Public Schools' new draft policy, "Interacting with Immigration Enforcement Agents," be sent to the policy sponsor for revision approval after committee discussion and a staff overview. The measure passed by a 4-0 roll-call vote.
Mrs. Welsh, who presented the draft, said the policy reflects changes made in response to public comments and is informed by House Bill 1222, a state law that requires school systems to adopt procedures for staff response if immigration enforcement agents appear on school property. "The policy is based on a new law... House Bill 1222," she said.
Key provisions in the draft include an expanded definition of "school property" to cover school buildings, grounds, leased or used property, athletic fields, playgrounds, parking lots, walkways, school buses and facilities used by public charter schools regardless of ownership. The draft also specifies that school resource officers and school security staff "shall not perform a function of an immigration enforcement agent in relation to investigating, apprehending, or the detention of immigrant students and their families." Mrs. Welsh said several of those changes were added in response to public comment.
The draft requires the superintendent and a designated official to ensure staff receive professional development on the steps to take if immigration enforcement agents appear on school property or at school-sponsored events. It also adds a shelter-in-place standard that schools would enact when immigration enforcement agents are confirmed on school property; the procedure would require designated staff to secure students in protective areas and notify students' emergency contacts.
Vice Chair Amy Olivo thanked staff and noted a partnership with CASA, saying that she believes the organization regards the district's draft as particularly strong. "I believe they believe that this is, quite frankly, the strongest policy in the state of Maryland as soon as we pass it," Olivo said.
After brief discussion, the committee recorded four affirmative votes and approved the recommendation to move the draft policy to the sponsor; the committee noted that the next step is consideration by the full board.
