Gloucester Township district says ICE would need court order before entering schools, officials tell board

A public question at the Gloucester Township Public Schools board meeting raised whether the district’s cooperation-with-law-enforcement policy would allow immigration enforcement agents to enter school buildings.

At the meeting Angel McDermott asked, “Does this also address the immigration policies if ICE were to come to the district?” District staff replied that the current document addresses cooperation with all law enforcement agencies but emphasized it is a written process rather than a standalone policy.

“Essentially, the process … would be that should any federal agency approach with a need to enter our buildings, we would ask for the court order that has them appear in Gloucester Township,” the district representative said. The official added that the district would notify the solicitor and review the court document; if it was in order, “there would be cooperation with all law enforcement that come to the building.”

Board staff said the memorandum governing law-enforcement coordination was drafted in the fall and could be updated in future editions of the memorandum of understanding. The district also told the audience principals have written guidance and that staff have consulted the solicitor about procedures.

Why it matters: school access by federal immigration agents raises legal and community concerns about student privacy and enforcement in educational settings. The district’s statement that it would require a court order and consult legal counsel clarifies a procedural threshold but does not change existing policy language at this meeting.

No board action or vote on the cooperation procedures was taken during the public comment period. District staff said they would continue to update principals and refine the memorandum as necessary.