Richmond School Board to vote on immigration enforcement policy in schools

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond school officials are set to vote Tuesday night on a new policy outlining how schools should respond if immigration enforcement officers arrive seeking a student. The proposed policy comes in response to a recent shift in federal immigration enforcement, raising concerns among families and educators.

During a meeting Monday night, Richmond School Board members emphasized that immigration officers cannot simply enter a school and detain students without due process. The policy aims to establish clear guidelines to ensure legal compliance and protect students' rights.

The discussion follows former President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders lifting restrictions on immigration enforcement in "sensitive areas" -- which includes schools. Under the proposed policy, if immigration officials arrive at a school:

• The school principal must be notified immediately.
• The superintendent must verify whether officers have a valid, signed warrant or subpoena.
• The child’s family must be contacted.

Additionally, any request for student records would have to go through the superintendent’s office to ensure compliance with federal law under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

School board members hope that finalizing this policy will help address a recent spike in student absences. One board member noted that a single Richmond school reported nearly 500 absences in one day, a sign of growing fear among immigrant families.

“Parents should be at ease in terms of where their children are,” said School Board Member Cheryl L. Burke. “But I also want to be mindful of protecting our personnel -- what personnel is going to stop [immigration officers] from coming in?”

Board Member Shonda Harris-Muhammed, a retired school administrator, pointed out the challenges of enforcing such policies in real-time.

“When you’re in that action and you’ve been trained to protect your kids and staff, sometimes protocol goes out the door,” she said.

Last week, Superintendent Jason Kamras delivered a message of support to immigrant families and students.

“No matter who you are, where you come from or how you define yourself, we will always do everything humanly possible to protect you and keep you safe,” Kamras said in a video message on social media.

An immigration lawyer interviewed by 8News confirmed that fear of enforcement is a significant factor driving student absences. The lawyer warned that increased anxiety among immigrant students could have long-term academic and psychological effects.

The Richmond School Board vote is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4.