Rochester Public Schools Shares Policy Regarding Potential Encounter With ICE Agents
Rochester Public Schools will continue to follow the law while doing everything we can to support our students, staff, and families, and to help ensure that our schools remain places of learning, belonging, and care
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Rochester Public School District (RPS) is informing families of its procedures regarding a potential visit from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agents (ICE).
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In the email, RPS Superintendent Kent Pekel said as of Friday morning, federal immigration agents have not visited an RPS school.
ICE agents were observed conducting operations in Rochester on Thursday.
RPS Superintendent: ICE Agents Need Proper Documents to Access Schools, Staff & Students
Pekel says the district has worked with its legal counsel to “update and strengthen” RPS’s procedures if ICE agents were to visit an RPS school. He says the district was one of the first in the state to develop such guidelines for staff last year.
The policy restricts ICE agents from having “unrestricted access” to RPS buildings and school grounds, the email says.
If agents arrive at a school, they will be directed to remain in the building’s office while RPS legal counsel reviews judicial documents that are required for agents to gain access to a school and the students and staff in a building, Pekel wrote.
Access will not be granted to agents unless “appropriate legal documents are presented and validated,” the email says. Pekel says the policy is not unique to ICE and points out all visitors are required to have approval and proper identification.
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RPS also does not collect or retain immigration status information about students and their parents, Pekel said.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely, follow the law, and take further action as appropriate to support students and staff,” Pekel wrote.
RPS Shares Absence Policy Amid ICE Operation
Caregivers concerned about sending their students to school amid the ICE activity in Rochester are being told their child’s absence will be considered an excused absence.
Pekel also directed families to RPS’s online school for concerned caregivers.
“It is likely that the issues we are grappling with today will remain part of our lives for some time. Rochester Public Schools will continue to follow the law while doing everything we can to support our students, staff, and families, and to help ensure that our schools remain places of learning, belonging, and care,” Pekel said.
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