On Monday, January 20, 2025, within a few hours of the transition of power, the Trump-Vance administration rescinded the Department of Homeland Security’s “protected areas memorandum,” which states that, except in limited circumstances, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are prohibited from conducting enforcement actions at or near certain protected locations, including but not limited to schools, healthcare facilities, places of worship, emergency response sites, social service establishments, places where children gather, and sites of public demonstration and celebration.
In response, TCF’s National Newcomer Network issued the following:
“This is a scary time for many of our communities. Last week, the Trump administration rescinded the Department of Homeland Security’s “protected areas memorandum”, removing immigration enforcement protections from certain sensitive locations, such as schools, healthcare facilities, places of worship, and more.
“These are places where we learn; where we build community; where we receive lifesaving support to heal and grow; and where we celebrate some of the most meaningful moments of our lives. Now, the Trump administration wants to scare immigrants into thinking these places—and these very foundational human experiences—aren’t for them.
“The Century Foundation’s National Newcomer Network is deeply concerned by this decision. It increases the likelihood of armed ICE officers conducting raids in and around schools, child care centers, playgrounds, and youth spaces, likely causing a chilling effect in immigrant communities that could prevent them from receiving critical social services to which they are entitled under several state and federal laws. More explicitly, any deterrent to school attendance infringes on the right to a free public education established under Plyler v. Doe and must be challenged.
“At The Century Foundation and across the National Newcomer Network’s 40+ states, we remain steadfast in our commitment to both immigrant justice and educational equity. We published a policy guide for school and district leaders to implement district-wide protections for immigrant students in every school building that meet both common sense and legal standards. We have gathered “Know Your Rights” resources from partner organizations and created a resource document that is open to all. We have established strong relationships with direct service providers and legal organizations who are supporting families across the country. Finally, we remain committed to ensuring that every student in every district across the country feels safe and has access to the resources they need to succeed regardless of their background or status.
“Our immigrant students are incredible assets to our school communities, and with the right supports in place, they will grow up to be helpful friends, neighbors, leaders, and innovators. It is our duty as educators to safeguard their rights so that they can grow and thrive.”
Tags: ice, education, immigration, homeland security, school
TCF’s Alejandra Vázquez Baur on Trump Greenlighting ICE Enforcement in Schools, Hospitals
On Monday, January 20, 2025, within a few hours of the transition of power, the Trump-Vance administration rescinded the Department of Homeland Security’s “protected areas memorandum,” which states that, except in limited circumstances, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are prohibited from conducting enforcement actions at or near certain protected locations, including but not limited to schools, healthcare facilities, places of worship, emergency response sites, social service establishments, places where children gather, and sites of public demonstration and celebration.
In response, TCF’s National Newcomer Network issued the following:
“This is a scary time for many of our communities. Last week, the Trump administration rescinded the Department of Homeland Security’s “protected areas memorandum”, removing immigration enforcement protections from certain sensitive locations, such as schools, healthcare facilities, places of worship, and more.
“These are places where we learn; where we build community; where we receive lifesaving support to heal and grow; and where we celebrate some of the most meaningful moments of our lives. Now, the Trump administration wants to scare immigrants into thinking these places—and these very foundational human experiences—aren’t for them.
“The Century Foundation’s National Newcomer Network is deeply concerned by this decision. It increases the likelihood of armed ICE officers conducting raids in and around schools, child care centers, playgrounds, and youth spaces, likely causing a chilling effect in immigrant communities that could prevent them from receiving critical social services to which they are entitled under several state and federal laws. More explicitly, any deterrent to school attendance infringes on the right to a free public education established under Plyler v. Doe and must be challenged.
“At The Century Foundation and across the National Newcomer Network’s 40+ states, we remain steadfast in our commitment to both immigrant justice and educational equity. We published a policy guide for school and district leaders to implement district-wide protections for immigrant students in every school building that meet both common sense and legal standards. We have gathered “Know Your Rights” resources from partner organizations and created a resource document that is open to all. We have established strong relationships with direct service providers and legal organizations who are supporting families across the country. Finally, we remain committed to ensuring that every student in every district across the country feels safe and has access to the resources they need to succeed regardless of their background or status.
“Our immigrant students are incredible assets to our school communities, and with the right supports in place, they will grow up to be helpful friends, neighbors, leaders, and innovators. It is our duty as educators to safeguard their rights so that they can grow and thrive.”
Tags: ice, education, immigration, homeland security, school