Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice says:
Given recent changes to federal immigration enforcement policies, I am aware that there are questions about what they mean for our schools.
While we expect school visits from immigration officials to remain rare, I want to ensure our extended community is informed about what these changes mean. Our legal counsel has provided us with the latest information. Here it is:
Our district’s top priority remains providing quality education in a safe, supportive environment for every child – regardless of immigration status.
As we continue to monitor these evolving circumstances, we can share the following information:
- Your child has the right to attend public school in the district where they reside, regardless of immigration status, as guaranteed by the United States Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe (1982).
- Public schools must also:
- Provide language assistance for students who are English learners; and
- Communicate about school programs in languages that parents can understand.
- Although the Department of Homeland Security has recently rescinded the longstanding “protected areas” policy, which discouraged ICE agents from taking enforcement actions at schools, it is still unlikely that ICE agents will visit schools.
- ICE agents cannot enter non-public areas of a school (interpreted as inside the school building by the district) without:
- A valid judicial warrant signed by a federal judge;
- Consent from school officials; or
- An emergency such as an urgent national security or public safety threat.
- Under FERPA, schools cannot release student records to ICE without:
- A court order or subpoena;
- A health or safety emergency; or
- Written consent from the student’s parent or the student (if over 18 years old).
Scarice adds, “Our priority remains providing a safe learning environment for every student. Please reach out with any questions.” His email is tscarice@westportps.org.
Sounds reasonable.
On Holocaust Rememberance Day, I can not believe where we are or that this has to be said. Sad times. Scary
From his note, ICE officials cannot enter a school without “consent from school officials”. Do we have a policy sharing on what grounds they would provide that consent?
I presume that means a warrant.
I thought already declared an urgent national security threat over this issue.
Yes today is Holocaust Remembrance Day. My wife visited Auschwitz, in Poland, in the 1970s
As a teacher I would not comply. I risk my life for my students and their safety. We do drills to protect these kids. Remember when they said they would not comply over a frigging mask? I would not subject students to the horrors of an ICE agent barging into the school and asking for their papers in order to make a spectacle of them for people like Miller to get off and have his patheic kicks. What year is this?
thanks Steph. I’m glad you speak up.
Does anyone want to suggest that ICE agents should be able to enter, under any circumstances,”” our schools (elementary, middle or high schools) and drag out students in front of their classmates, teachers and potentially the entire student body.
Will all the kids be required at some point to wear badges or carry ID tags denoting their immigration status. That image would give our town and 06880DanWoog.com a lot to think about and talk about.
Incredible that I write this on Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Why don’t they punish the business owners who hire undocumented immigrants ? Lots of Republican businesses in Westport hire undocumented immigrants. Everuoje knows it. Many Republican voters who support Trump hire undocumented immigrants. Whyvdo they get a free ride.?
That’s the rub, Richard. Republicans don’t really want to get rid of undocumented workers, they simply want them to remain “illegal” so they are inexpensive and don’t have bargaining power.
(Though, does anyone think Westport, Connecticut schools will be the targets of ICE?)
Hooray for Westport Public School System
Last comment,
Good point! This is why we all MUST get involved locally! This administration is proving to us that every single one of us better get active in local politics. We are in dangerous territory with a crazed man attempting to erase and rewrite history VERY quickly! As JEWS, we both know the dangers of that! Jan 6th was enough but now erasing it, praising it, excusing it, and calling them HOSTAGES and he is worried about an immigrants?! BS. Make it stop!
Right. And thanks to the felon president, 1550 violent criminals, I mean, “hostages”, have been released back into the streets and our communities.
some Jan 6 hostages are Neo Natzis. Some one needs to blow the shofar and get people’s attention. Elon Musk is using the Natzi salute and defending Natzi philosophy. Where are the clergy spiritual leaders ?
I communicated with Superintendent Scarice, as well as Police Chief Koskinas. Their responses, now in writing from Dr. Scarice, are consistent and protective. I have also asked Tom and Foti to seek public input if anyone is aware of a relevant situation. I will certainly do that, but I think our entire community should be urged to be alert. Finally, I have e mailed the RTM and the BoS on this topic of protecting immigrants, inquiring as to what if anything those two bodies were doing. I have not yet received responses.
Westporters ever vigilant. The Minuteman would be proud.
I thought this was an early April Fools post until I read the comments….Do you really think in a town where the median home sales price in 2024 topped $2M, and rare home rentals are even more expensive, that undocumented migrant children in the schools is an issue? I’ll take “things that never happened for $100, Alex”.
Regardless, the migrant crisis is real and not going anywhere anytime soon, so since Westporter’s seem anxious to help here are some ideas:
1) Beach passes for migrants – show your in process paperwork or newly minted Green Card, enjoy the Compo sand. Even better, host a big migrant event during the fireworks so they can experience all that this land of opportunity provides for all.
2) Vouchers for the schools – no better way to experience the American way of life than with a top shelf public education, so let’s fill those empty seats, get some portables and fill them too. Way better than the crappy schools near the migrant shelters in the Bronx.
3) Housing! Finally a use for Baron’s South!! Probably need a tax assessment to fund construction, but as the shelters around NYC start to close, if they’re staying, they’ve got to sleep somewhere. Perhaps temporarily put them in all the newly constructed vacant apartments and condos.
Let’s go Wepo! Embrace your new neighbors, welcome them into the community, make every day jUNe Day.
What a heartless and unfunny comment about such a serious topic.
oh please, if blog readers used their turn signals are frequently as their virtue signals our roads would be a much safer place.
Now that comment was not only hearty, it was funny!!!
They’re everywhere. Shut off the engine and don’t forget the fob!!!!
What did an immigrant do to you?
“I remember (tu-tu)
I remember (tu-tu)
I remember (tu-tu)
They had a swimming pool…”
https://youtu.be/yEbjInR6irI?feature=shared
Just FYI to further increase your sense of paranoia: US Border Patrol agents by law have the right to make ARRESTS (similar to local police officers) within 10 miles inland from of ANY body of water that connects to the oceans. So Lake Winnepauskie is OUT, but the Snake River that forms the southern boundary between Idaho and Eastern Oregon? On, yeah: Snake to Columbia to the Pacific.
Also, remember that EVERY federal department has an armed law enforcement agency or two!!! ICE agents (burly guys with advanced weaponry) as just the most obvious. USPO has them, too. Where do you think HS & DOJ found all those MASKED armed men to send to Portland in 2020? And they were volunteers (with bonus payments) who WANTED to attack their fellow citizens.
Now, if their Quisling leaders could just agree on the right shade of brown for their shirts and jackets . . . .
The Amish have now filed suit over the abrogation od “safe places” like churches. The Amish!!! And we all know how that’s going to go in the short term.
I think you catch my drift. Elections have consequences.
P.S. The MOST dangerous person in the US right now is Suzie Wiles, T’s chief of staff, because she’s the one who says “Yes, Mr. President” and picks up the phone to say “You WILL do this.”
Ya know.
Scarice’s communication was clear, concise and correct.
Using it as a “trigger point” for political posturing is not.
Equating the overdue enforcement of US immigration law with the Holocaust is obscene on its face especially when it’s done by Jewish people, claiming to be teachers who more than anyone else should know better. Elections do have consequences and the melodrama we are now facing with ICE finding competent leadership and finally doing its job is a consequence of Biden/Harris 2020 who embodied incompetent leadership that ignored its job. One thing is certain: ICE has bigger fish to fry than they will find in Westport.
Hi Eric- I take issue with your contention of political posturing.
The trigger for calling out what was said was provided by the facts that synagogues now have costly guards, surveillance cameras and security door to feel safe.
It was provided by insurrectionists showing up in T shirts that said 6MWNE(6 million was not enough) and camp Auschwitz counselor. All of whom were pardoned and are still standing down and standing by.
Sadly, sooner or later we will see an empowered ICE agent entering schools to remove students- maybe in Newark or Bridgeport. You’re correct- Maybe not Westport.
ICE agents have entered businesses and arrested the Hispanic workers including a Hispanic US veteran who they thought had phony documents.
What would be obscene is not issuing warnings of what is seen, not speaking up for what is happening and remaining silent in the face of the perceived and real threats.
ICE has arrested 1200 so far. Guess what? Only half have any criminal record. Oops. But they could easily pick up one more criminal who’s sitting in the White House right now.
Steve,
You have raised a point that I hadn’t fully considered and I understand why you are taking issue with what I said. Are the attacks on synagogues that you referenced solely due to white supremacists/insurrectionists or are they not also attributed to radicals that have permeated society at multiple levels and have openly advocated the eradication of Israel and Israelis “from the river to the sea.”?
Regardless, ALL citizens have a right to feel safe, whether it’s in church/temple/synagogue/mosque, school whether public/private and especially in their own home, while attending school or anywhere else.
I stand by my sentiment that respect for law is the foundation of well-being for all and is therefore a baseline expectation of all who we elect. Thanks for highlighting some points I missed.
Please stop using us Jews as pawns in Trump’s game. Thanks. We are not talking about Hamas and The Tree of Life shooter was a Trump supporter. Stop using Jews.
So are you deporting ALL the ignorant people in America including insurrectionists? If that is the case, say ta ta to all the traitors Trump pardoned. They are a threat!
Did immigrants right outside of Cincinnati where you live and I grew up eat cats and dogs?
Do not tell me as Jew what is obsecene or not.
Have a seat Eric. We can meet up at Plum Street someday and discuss this further with the rabbi.
Stephanie,
I wish you and I had gone to Staples together. We would have had fun. 🤩
When will the Phony racist hypocritical Trump administration address the real immigration problem ??? Who will harvest tomatoes avocados oranges and salad ? In 06880 whonis harvesting oysters clans and mussels? Who is on the commercial fishing boats we see at Compo? Who are on the building sites we see all over town ? Who will bu ill d you a beautiful stone wall? Who built your swimming pool ?? Who paved your driveway? Who perduras your manicure and pedicure ? Who massages your body ? Who cooks in your favorite Westport restaurant ? Who details your car? Westport would collapse without undocumented labor. USA would collapse without undocumented labor. Start enforcing the current USA law on large and small companies that hire undocumented. people. So many Trunp supporters I know own business that thrive on talented skilled hard working immigrants.
Trump is owned by Israel and AIPAC like 99% of our useless politicians. Tell Ms. Adelson to speak to Trump lol.