Aurora Beacon-News: Aurora area schools prepare for possible immigration arrests - state issues guidance to schools

[Dennis Donovan]

Aurora Beacon-News - Aurora area schools prepare for possible immigration arrests as state issues guidance on how schools should respond

By Molly Morrow Aurora Beacon-News
UPDATED: January 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM CST

After the Trump administration announced on Tuesday that officers enforcing federal immigration laws could now make arrests at sensitive locations, Aurora area schools have begun to make plans in case Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection try to make arrests at their facilities.

ICE guidance restricting officers from entering sensitive locations like schools and churches dated back to 2011. Similar Customs and Border Protection guidance was made in 2013.

But now, as that guidance ends, local school districts are determining how they will respond to potential ICE encounters.

On Wednesday, the Illinois State Board of Education issued “non-regulatory guidance” for schools statewide in the event that federal agencies attempt to enforce federal immigration laws on school property.

“As leaders of public schools, we have both a legal and moral obligation to protect our students’ rights within our buildings,” State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders said in a press release Thursday. “ISBE firmly believes that schools should be a safe haven for all students, where students should be able to learn without fear. We can and should do everything within our power to protect our students and their right to learn while in our care.”

/snip

[Oneear]

1. Do they have Online Learing?

Children can learn online the subject matter

[Bluethroughu]

2. A warrant for the papers of each child should be needed

To prove they can look at their PII and prove citizenship. They can not just arrest children at schools for being hispanic or require PII from all children that would be against the 4th Amendment of the citizens in that school.

What judge would give a blanket warrant to a school to search and size the children until they can prove they are citizens?! That is unConstitutional.

[live love laugh]

3. Taking minors is a pedophiles dream and Republicans are definitely pedophiles.

[4catsmom]

4. Raiding schools is so cowardly

and third world. If I were an ICE agent dragging six year olds out of their classroom, I'd worry about my immortal soul

[ShazzieB]

5. You are so right!

This whole thing is incredibly sad and gross...and it's just getting started!