Immigration Family Resources
Recursos para Familias de Inmigración
Resous Fanmi Imigrasyon
English
Recent activities by the Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in other parts of the country have raised questions in our local school community.
In response, Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) provided clear guidance on supporting immigrant student rights in our schools and responding to requests from immigration authorities or law enforcement. Wicomico County Public Schools will follow the guidance issued by MSDE.
All children have a right to equal access to a free public education, regardless of the immigration status of the child or their parent/guardian.
Undocumented children have the same rights as U.S. citizens and residents to attend school full-time, provided they meet state age and residency requirements.
All requests for student education records or access by immigration officials must be referred to district leadership to ensure compliance with legal protections.
Parents/guardians will be notified if immigration officials or law enforcement request or gain access to a student unless prohibited by a judicial warrant or subpoena.
Trained counselors and social workers are available at each school to support student mental health. If you have concerns, please contact your child’s school.
In support of all learners, the State Superintendent of Schools stated, “I want to ensure that every student—regardless of immigration status—receives the support they need from our educational system.”
Español
Las actividades recientes de la Oficina de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) en otras partes del país han generado preguntas en nuestra comunidad escolar local.
En respuesta, el Departamento de Educación del Estado de Maryland (MSDE) brindó orientación clara sobre cómo apoyar los derechos de los estudiantes inmigrantes en nuestras escuelas y responder a las solicitudes de las autoridades de inmigración o las autoridades policiales. Las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Wicomico seguirán las pautas emitidas por MSDE.
Todos los niños tienen derecho a igual acceso a una educación pública gratuita, independientemente del estatus migratorio del niño o de su padre/tutor.
Tos niños indocumentados tienen los mismos derechos que los ciudadanos y residentes estadounidenses de asistir a la escuela a tiempo completo, siempre que cumplan con los requisitos estatales de edad y residencia.
Todas las solicitudes de registros educativos de estudiantes o acceso por parte de funcionarios de inmigración deben remitirse al liderazgo del distrito para garantizar el cumplimiento de las protecciones legales.
Los padres/tutores serán notificados si los funcionarios de inmigración o las autoridades policiales solicitan o obtienen acceso a un estudiante a menos que lo prohíba una orden judicial o citación.
En cada escuela hay consejeros capacitados y trabajadores sociales disponibles para apoyar la salud mental de los estudiantes. Si tiene dudas, comuníquese con la escuela de su hijo.
En apoyo a todos los estudiantes, el Superintendente de Escuelas del Estado declaró: "Quiero asegurar que cada estudiante, independientemente de su estatus migratorio, reciba el apoyo que necesita de nuestro sistema educativo".
Kreyol Ayisyen
Aktivite ki sot pase nan Ofis Imigrasyon ak Ranfòsman Ladwàn (ICE) ak lòt pati nan peyi a te poze anpil kesyon nan kominote lekòl lokal nou an.
Kòm repons, Depatman Edikasyon Eta Maryland (MSDE) te bay konsèy klè sou sipòte dwa elèv imigran nan lekòl nou yo ak reponn a demann otorite imigrasyon oswa lapolis. Lekòl Leta Wicomico County pral swiv konsèy MSDE bay.
Tout timoun gen dwa pou yo jwenn yon edikasyon piblik gratis, kèlkeswa sitiyasyon imigrasyon timoun nan oswa paran/gadyen yo.
Timoun ki pa gen papye gen menm dwa ak sitwayen ameriken ak rezidan yo pou yo ale lekòl aplentan, depi yo ranpli kondisyon laj ak rezidans leta yo.
Tout demann pou dosye edikasyon elèv oswa aksè pa ofisyèl imigrasyon yo dwe refere bay lidèchip distri a pou asire konfòmite ak pwoteksyon legal.
Nou ap enfòme paran/gadyen yo si ofisyèl imigrasyon oswa lapolis mande oswa jwenn aksè a yon elèv sòf si yon manda jidisyè oswa sitasyon entèd.
Gen konseye ki resevwa fòmasyon ak travayè sosyal ki disponib nan chak lekòl pou sipòte sante mantal elèv yo. Si ou gen enkyetid, tanpri kontakte lekòl pitit ou a.
Pou sipòte tout elèv k ap aprann, Sipèentandan Lekòl Eta a te deklare, “Mwen vle asire ke chak elèv—kèlkeswa sitiyasyon imigrasyon—resevwa sipò yo bezwen nan men sistèm edikasyon nou an.
Student Rights
• All children have a right to equal access to a free public education, regardless of the immigration status of the child or their parent/guardian.
• While schools may require proof of residency within the district, information about citizenship or immigration status is never needed for school enrollment.
• Federal and state laws protect education records and personal information. These laws generally require written consent from parents/guardians before releasing information, unless it is for educational purposes, otherwise authorized by law, or in response to a court order or subpoena.
• Some schools collect and make public “directory information” about students, such as name, address, email address, and phone number. If this is a practice, the local educational agency (LEA) must provide parents or guardians with written notice of its directory information policy and provide the option to refuse release of their child’s information. The notice must effectively notify parents who have a primary or home language other than English.
• Students, parents, and guardians have the right to report a hate crime or file a complaint to the school district or the State Superintendent if they or their child has been discriminated against based on national origin.
School Registration
• State education law entitles children ages five years old and under 21 years old who have not received a high school diploma to attend the public schools in the LEA in which they reside without paying tuition.
• Undocumented children, like U.S. citizen/resident children, have the right to attend school full time, as long as they meet the age and residency requirements established by state law.
• The U.S. Supreme Court held in Plyler v. Doe (1982) that schools may not deny students a free public education on the basis of their undocumented or non-citizen status, or that of their parents or guardians.
• At the time of registration, schools may not ask questions related to a parent or student’s immigration status nor request a Social Security number.
• Although LEAs should collect certain data pursuant to state and/or federal laws, they should do so after a student has enrolled in school so as not to give the impression that information related to immigration status will be used in making enrollment determinations.
Requests from Immigration Authorities
• Various laws impose legal duties on the LEA with respect to law enforcement questioning students at school and the confidentiality of student records, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 13A.08.02.
• Local school officials should cooperate with law enforcement and federal immigration authorities in accordance with their LEA policies and guidelines and in consultation with their attorneys.
• Upon receipt of a request from immigration officials to access student education records, LEAs should immediately consult with their attorneys, to ensure compliance with FERPA and COMAR 13A.08.02 regarding the release of personally identifiable information (PII) in a student’s education records without the consent of the parent or eligible student.
• Before fulfilling a request from federal immigration authorities or law enforcement to enforce immigration laws, LEA employees should immediately contact the local superintendent and school attorneys for legal advice.
• If federal immigration officials or law enforcement enter a school building seeking access to students (for interviews and/or questioning), school personnel should contact the local superintendent immediately for guidance. School personnel should not argue or debate with immigration enforcement officials but should direct them to the local superintendent or designated administrator for further action.
• LEA personnel should immediately notify the student’s parent or guardian if an immigration official or law enforcement officer requests or gains access to a student for immigration-enforcement purposes, unless such access was following a judicial warrant or subpoena that restricts the disclosure of the information to the parent or guardian.
Resources for Families
• Parents/guardians can update their child’s emergency contact information at school, including secondary contacts, to identify a trusted adult who can care for their child if they are detained or deported. They can also identify a “standby guardian” to care for their child if they are detained or deported, by completing this Maryland Judiciary form and providing a copy to schools, health care providers, and family members.
• Families trying to locate someone who has already been detained, may use the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainee locator.
• Legal assistance is available from a variety of sources, including immigration lawyers in private practice, accredited representatives (non-attorneys who assist individuals in immigration proceedings), and legal-aid organizations:
• The People's Law Library of Maryland
• Immigration Advocates Network
• Several immigration organizations have prepared comprehensive guidance on preparing for and responding to immigration enforcement actions:
• The People's Law Library of Maryland
• ACLU Know Your Rights: Immigrant Rights Scenarios
• Catholic Legal Immigration Network Rapid Response Toolkit
• USAHello 2025 Immigration Guide
• Families also may wish to contact the consulate or embassy of their country of origin for further information.