Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued guidance to students, families, educators, and school officials in response to concerns about immigration enforcement on school campuses. The guidance aims to ensure a safe environment for all students and includes three documents: one for school officials on handling visits from immigration officers, another with model policies for K-12 public schools, and a third detailing the rights of immigrant students and their families. These resources are available in multiple languages at oag.ca.gov/immigrant/resources.

Attorney General Bonta emphasized the importance of access to education for all children, stating, "All children have a constitutional right to access a public education, regardless of their immigration status." He noted that recent presidential orders have caused fear within immigrant communities and stressed the commitment of his office to provide necessary tools and knowledge to educators. Bonta encouraged schools to report any immigration enforcement activities by emailing immigration@doj.ca.gov.

The guidance for school officials outlines steps such as notifying local educational agency administrators when an immigration officer requests access, verifying the officer's credentials, documenting their actions if they enter without consent, and informing parents or guardians unless legally restricted. It also advises reporting any law enforcement attempts related to immigration enforcement at schools.

The rights of immigrant students include equal access to free public education under the U.S. Constitution's Equal Protection Clause. Schools must accept various documents for enrollment proof without retaining copies unnecessarily. Federal and state laws protect student records' confidentiality, generally requiring parental consent before releasing information unless legally mandated otherwise. Students also have the right to file complaints if subjected to discrimination or harassment based on nationality or immigration status.

The complete guides are available in English and several other languages including Spanish, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.