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Superintendent outlines district protocol for ICE contacts, says federal order won't alter local policy
Summary
In the Jan. 22 superintendent report, the district reviewed guidance for handling approaches by immigration authorities and said a recent federal executive order does not change local obligations under the Maine Human Rights Act or the Plyler v. Doe ruling.
During the superintendent report at the Jan. 22 meeting, Superintendent Maria read district guidance advising principals on how to respond if an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer approaches a school.
The guidance, the superintendent said, follows the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision Plyler v. Doe and Department of Homeland Security guidance that designates schools as sensitive locations requiring prior approval for enforcement actions. The district protocol calls for the school principal to meet the agent at an exterior door, collect any presented identification or paperwork, consult legal counsel, and contact the student's parents before permitting an agent to enter a building unless legal counsel advises otherwise.
Superintendent Maria also addressed a recent federal executive order described in the meeting as "Defending Women from Gender Ideology," saying it applies to federal agencies and does not change the force of Maine law or local board policy under the Maine Human Rights Act; the superintendent said, "for now the two executive orders shouldn't impact our school operations." The board did not take action to change local policy during the meeting.
The superintendent encouraged administrators to follow the established protocol and consult legal counsel in the event of any enforcement approach; no specific incidents were reported to the board.
