Image Credit: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement / Facebook & Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Despite the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) consistently stating that ICE is not targeting schools or students, some parents in Tennessee are demanding to know how public schools are planning to respond if immigration enforcement makes an appearance in their area.
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) has an entire page on its website dedicated to the district’s plan for interactions with immigration officials. The policy reiterates the explicit legal authorization to access student records or speak with students on school property is required for any law enforcement activity, including immigration enforcement.
It also says that if immigration enforcement officials make a request, the legal department will “review the matter thoroughly to ensure compliance with the law” and then notify families “as permitted in accordance with legal authority.” Staff are instructed to direct officers to the school’s principal or administrator who will ask for identification and legal documents before passing the information to the district’s legal team.
The MNPS page also has a list of “Family Resources” with links to several organizations who cater to immigrants including the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), which has spent much time advocating for and funding illegal aliens, Tennessee Justice For Our Neighbors (JFON), and the American Muslim Advisory Council.
Other districts across the state also reportedly have similar plans in place, even if they are not publicly posted.
Nothing specific is posted on Hamilton County Schools’ website, but a district spokesperson confirmed procedures do exist, though exactly what those are remains unclear.
“Hamilton County Schools is dedicated to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment where all students can focus on their education and growth. In alignment with our Opportunity 2030 strategic plan, we are committed to student well-being and ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn in a secure and welcoming space. While we collaborate with local agencies as needed, we have clear procedures in place to protect student privacy and maintain a learning environment that prioritizes safety, respect, and care for all,” a district spokesperson stated in response to parent and media inquiry.
Some Hamilton County parents expressed concern that harm might befall school staff should they resist immigration officers, even though DHS has confirmed that officers must get a supervisor’s approval before taking any action at a school and there have been no recorded instances if ICE conducting any operations on school grounds in Tennessee.
“I think they might arrest teachers or principals or like a superintendent if they were to go against that,” one parent said.
In Knox County, Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk said the district would treat immigration agents like any other law enforcement should they need to enter any of the county’s school campuses, but also stated there have been no specific communications between the district and DHS or ICE.
“We will follow the law,” he said. “And we will follow law enforcement. We train our principals annually. You’re talking about a school system interacting with law enforcement, and we do that on a daily basis, minus kind of what’s in the news right now. So our protocol is not different than what we do in those situations.”
Knox County Schools (KCS) confirmed the district does not keep records of students’ immigration status and would not provide any law enforcement entity access to student or educational records without proper legal authorization and direction from the KCS law director, the same as an encounter with any other law enforcement agency would go.
Rysewyk also specified that there had not been a single situation where ICE had asked to enter a KCS classroom. “As far as communications specifically about ICE, there have not been those. There haven’t been situations where that’s happened at school, and so that hasn’t been an issue that’s come up. But all of those lines are open for us to have communication with all of those agencies at any point, but to date, we haven’t had that,” he said.
As some parents and educators push for more comprehensive or detailed policies from their schools, others have taken matters into their own hands after increased ICE activity in Nashville and Memphis, forming watch groups, patrols, calling non-American families to warn of the agency’s presence in the area, and even adding special bus routes for immigrant children.
Illegal immigration is set to be a cornerstone for this year’s legislative session, with bills creating new offenses, adding enforcement mechanisms, and demagnetizing the state all slated for consideration.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
