Principals To Bar Immigration Agents From Chicago Schools

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent walks down the aisle of charter jet for deportation in the air between Chicago and Harlingen, Texas. Under legislation proposed in the city of Evanston plans, police and other city employees would be prevented from asking people about their immigration status and reporting undocumented immigrants to the federal government.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent walks down the aisle of charter jet for deportation in the air between Chicago and Harlingen, Texas. LM Otero / AP Photo
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent walks down the aisle of charter jet for deportation in the air between Chicago and Harlingen, Texas. Under legislation proposed in the city of Evanston plans, police and other city employees would be prevented from asking people about their immigration status and reporting undocumented immigrants to the federal government.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent walks down the aisle of charter jet for deportation in the air between Chicago and Harlingen, Texas. LM Otero / AP Photo

Principals To Bar Immigration Agents From Chicago Schools

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Updated Feb. 22

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Public Schools has instructed its principals not to let federal immigration agents inside district buildings without a criminal warrant.

Chief Education Officer Janice Jackson also urged principals Tuesday to have parents update student emergency contact forms and include backup contacts in case parents are detained.

The action came as the Trump administration announced a sweeping rewrite of immigration enforcement policies for an estimated 11 million people living in the United States illegally.

District guidelines direct principals to contact CPS attorneys if immigration enforcement agents arrive at their schools. The district says immigration agents should wait outside while the law department reviews the matter.

A Homeland Security memo indicates any immigrant in the country illegally who is charged or even suspected in a crime will now be an enforcement priority.