SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) - The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) has released a statement in response to the recent ICE actions in the Savannah area.
According to SCCPSS, the District has no current knowledge of ICE actions that involve any of our schools. We understand that, at this time, ICE enforcement actions are targeted toward undocumented individuals who have committed other unlawful acts and/or are considered a risk to public safety. While the District is required to comply with federal law, we continue our work to ensure that families feel safe sending their children to school. Our building leaders have been reminded of proper procedures that any law enforcement agencies, including immigration officials, would need to follow if they seek to enter our schools.
SCCPSS provided the following points as guidance:
• ICE agents are not authorized under current law to enter the school without a valid judicial warrant, consent, or exigent circumstances, such as a risk to public safety or destruction of evidence. It is SCCPSS’s policy not to provide general consent for ICE agents to enter or conduct enforcement actions in the school. Because of this, the school will only permit ICE enforcement actions on school grounds on the specific advice of the school’s legal counsel in cases where there is a valid judicial warrant or where ICE agents have determined that exigent circumstances exist. SCCPSS schools are legally prohibited from obstructing or otherwise interfering with a lawful ICE enforcement action.
• All children who reside in the U.S., regardless of their documentation or citizenship status, have the right to a public education.
• SCCPSS does not have any special policy or practice that prohibits or restricts its officials or employees from communicating or cooperating with federal officials or law enforcement officers with regard to reporting immigration status. (See O.C.G.A. § § 36-80-23.) However, pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), SCCPSS and its schools do not provide legally protected personally identifiable information about students to any law enforcement agent, including ICE agents, without express written parental consent or a valid judicial warrant.
• The law and federal guidelines regarding ICE enforcement actions are subject to change. SCCPSS is committed to complying with all applicable federal and state laws.
• SCCPSS has issued a protocol to school administrators for interacting with immigration enforcement officials on school grounds. This protocol involves seeking legal counsel as needed.
• Unless specifically prohibited by ICE, the school administration will immediately attempt to contact the parents of any student who is the subject of an ICE enforcement action.