Haverhill Administrators Reassure Students Laws Generally Prohibit ICE Raids in Schools

Haverhill school Superintendent Margaret Marotta. (WHAV News photograph.)

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Haverhill school administrators set out last week to reassure students and their families that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents cannot conduct raids within schools.

During last Thursday’s School Committee public comment time, Haverhill Student Council President David Martinez raised fear about possible immigration actions. His concerns followed media reports of a Jan. 20 memorandum from Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine C. Huffman rescinding Biden-era “Guidelines for Enforcement Actions in or Near Protected Areas” as well as unverified reports of raids.

“I’m super, super concerned about the ongoing ICE raids in Massachusetts and their impacts on students and families,” Martinez said. “These actions directed by the new presidential administration are cruel and inhumane but also in violation of the U.S. Constitution. ICE agents aren’t allowed to enter school property, enter school grounds without a warrant signed by a judge.”

Superintendent of Schools Margaret Marotta quickly quelled Martinez’s fears, reiterating Haverhill Public Schools’ policy on how staff deal with any agency.

“ICE agents cannot come into our schools. We cannot share information with them. Student privacy laws wouldn’t allow us to except in the very rarest of situations where there are criminal charges active against a student,” she said. “We have a protocol in place that our administrators have been briefed on if somebody were to come to the school, what to do, which is to get a picture of their badge, their name, ask them who they’re there about or why they would be at our schools and them to ask them to wait out in their car while they would be contacting me and the district’s attorneys in determining what our next steps are.”

She added, “In under no situation would we allow them to meet with or talk to children without parents being informed and present because that’s our protocol for any kind of agency that would come to the school.”

Marotta said that administrators would be communicating the school system’s policies and procedures to parents and guardians. A school website posting, for example, reports “We do not coordinate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. We do not share student records with ICE, except in rare cases required by a court order or with explicit parental/guardian consent. To keep your child safe, students are only released to individuals authorized in writing by their parents or guardians. Please make sure your child’s emergency contact information is up to date by reaching out to their school if needed. Our principals and staff receive ongoing training to ensure student privacy and rights are protected. We have also started conversations with school leaders about how to support students and families in the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as ICE-related situations, to ensure children feel safe and cared for at school.

She noted that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state attorney general’s office will be providing the city with resources on how to discuss the matter and how the school system can support families.

“As we get details, we’re going to share them with people,” she said. “But people should absolutely feel safe sending their kids to our schools. Our schools are a safe place for children, all children. We will protect all children regardless of any factors that may be out there.”

She encouraged parents with concerns to reach out to their school, parent liaison or school adjustment councilor.

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