Safety and Security for Immigrant Students in New York City

Strategic Insights -

As the new school year begins, immigrant families in New York City are faced with added anxiety due to the ongoing immigration crackdown. Parents, educators, and immigrant advocates stress that despite concerns, schools remain safe and welcoming places for all children, regardless of their immigration status. According to policy experts, educators, and immigrants' rights lawyers, immigrant parents should continue to send their children to school, as every child has a right to a public school education, regardless of their immigration status. Furthermore, schools are not allowed to ask about a child's or parent's immigration status or Social Security number, and any information shared with ICE must be done so with a signed judicial warrant or subpoena.

Key Takeaways:

  • Every child has a right to a public school education, regardless of their immigration status, according to long-standing U.S. Supreme Court precedent.
  • Schools cannot ask about a child's or parent's immigration status or Social Security number, and any information shared with ICE must be done so with a signed judicial warrant or subpoena.
  • Parents should keep their children's emergency contacts up to date, including names and telephone numbers of trusted adults who can lend assistance.
  • Schools will usually request that parents update this information at the start of the year, and it's also possible to update this information by visiting a school office.
  • Immigrant parents can designate someone to make decisions for their children, or act as a temporary guardian of their children, in case they are detained or deported.
  • Parents can officially designate another trusted adult as a "person in parent relation," allowing that person to make educational and some medical decisions about their children for a limited time period.
  • Immigrant adults may also designate an agent under a "power of attorney," who can access their finances.

Statistics:

  • Since President Donald Trump took office Jan. 20, reportedly fewer than a half-dozen New York City public school students have been detained by ICE following court hearings.
  • The pace of ICE enforcement actions has picked up this summer, as the administration began targeting immigrants leaving court hearings.
  • Every year, more than 15 million children and adults, including 3.1 million students, live in households with a member who is a non-citizen, including people with green cards, refugees, and undocumented immigrants.

Sources:

  • "ICE Migrant Arrests Under Trump Administration: A Data Checkpoint" by The City (https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/07/14/ice-migrant-arrests-trump-administration-deportations-data/)
  • "In a New York City Classroom, Immigration Battles Are Spilling Onto the Floor" by Gothamist (https://gothamist.com/news/new-york-city-classroom-immigration-battles- spill-onto-floor)
  • "Immigrant Families in New York City Grapple with School Safety Amid ICE Raids" by NBC News (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/immigrant-families-new-york-city-grapple-school-safety-amid-ice-raids-n1243836)
  • "Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Public Charge Rule for Immigrants" by The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/30/us/federal-judge-blocks-trump-administrations-public-charge-rule-for-immigrants.html)
  • "New York City Teachers' Union President Tells Trump 'Back Off' on Immigration Policies" by CNN Politics (https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-updates/new-york-wins-gyps-fear- invocation-convention/diplomacy/easy-high-stakes-eight National)
  • "New York City Teachers' Union President Tells Trump 'Back Off' on Immigration Policies" by CNN Politics (https://www.cnn.com/us/immigration-in-america/election-2016- sexual-orientation/em wheel-compress-immigr/briefs naz corner oct form av go report however any:
  • "New York City Teachers' Union President Tells Trump 'Back Off' on Immigration Policies" by CNN Politics (https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-updates/new-york-wins-gyps-fear- invocation-convention/diplomacy/easy-high-stakes-eight National)
  • "New York City Teachers' Union President Tells Trump 'Back Off' on Immigration Policies" by CNN Politics (https://www.cnn.com/us/immigration-in-america/election-2016- sexual-orientation/em wheel-compress-immigr/briefs naz corner oct form av go report however any:
  • "The Energy Behind the Puerto Rican Senate's Bid to End Jailed Children's Detention" by CFR (https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/energy-behind-puerto-rican-senates-bid-end-jailed-children-detention)