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Utah · Policy Development
Draft for Review — Not Yet Adopted

Draft Policy Language for School District Adoption

This page contains the exact policy language we are proposing school districts adopt to protect students, families, and staff from immigration enforcement disruptions on school campuses.

We are actively seeking feedback from:
  • Educators
  • School administrators
  • Legal experts
  • Community organizations
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Core principles

Schools stay focused on learning

Immigration enforcement activity on campuses disrupts instruction, harms attendance, and creates fear. Schools should be insulated from this as much as legally possible.

Staff are not put in legal jeopardy

Front office employees should not be asked to make legal determinations on the spot. Clear written procedures protect staff as much as students.

Student privacy is protected

FERPA already restricts sharing student information without proper legal authority. District policy should make this explicit and operationalize it.

Clear procedures prevent harm

Without written policy, responses vary by school and by individual staff member. Inconsistency is itself a form of harm — to students and to the district's legal exposure.

Proposed policy language

Four sections, each adoptable as a standalone policy or integrated into existing district policies on visitors, student records, or school safety.

The following language is written in a format intended to align with standard school board policy and administrative procedure structures.

1. Judicial Warrant Requirement

Policy Statement:

School district employees shall not grant access to any student, student records, or non-public areas of school property to immigration enforcement officers (including ICE and CBP) unless the officer presents a valid judicial warrant signed by a court or judge.

Administrative warrants, ICE detainers, or other documents not signed by a court or judge shall not be considered sufficient for access.

All requests from immigration enforcement shall be immediately referred to the school principal or designated administrator, who shall consult with district legal counsel before any action is taken.

Why this matters: Immigration officers may present administrative warrants that are not signed by a judge. This language ensures staff only respond to legally valid court orders. Learn the difference →
2. Front Office Protocol

Policy Statement:

All school staff, including front office personnel, shall follow a standardized protocol when interacting with immigration enforcement officers:

  • Staff shall not provide access to students, records, or non-public areas
  • Staff shall not confirm whether a student is enrolled or present
  • Staff shall not contact students or remove students from instructional settings in response to enforcement requests
  • Staff shall immediately refer all requests to the school principal or designated administrator
Why this matters: Front office staff are the most likely to be approached. Clear rules prevent mistakes made under pressure.
3. Staff Training Requirements

Policy Statement:

The district shall provide annual training to all school-based staff, including administrators and front office personnel, on:

  • The difference between judicial and administrative warrants
  • Required response procedures to immigration enforcement requests
  • Student privacy protections under applicable laws, including FERPA

Training materials shall be standardized across the district to ensure consistent implementation.

Why this matters: Policies only work if staff understand them — especially under pressure.
4. Communication and Family Notification

Policy Statement:

A. Incident-Based Communication

In the event of any immigration enforcement request or attempted action involving a student:

  • The district shall make reasonable efforts to notify the student's parent or guardian as soon as possible
  • The district shall not disclose student information without prior review and authorization consistent with applicable law
  • The district shall ensure that students are not removed from instructional settings or isolated from appropriate support except as required by law

B. Ongoing Communication

The district shall provide clear and accessible information to students, families, and staff regarding its policies and procedures related to immigration enforcement, including:

  • Publicly available guidance describing how the district responds to immigration enforcement requests
  • Information provided to families in a language they can understand
  • Periodic communication to ensure awareness of student rights and district procedures

The district shall make this information available on its website and include it in standard family communications where appropriate.

Why this matters: Clear communication before and during incidents builds trust, prevents confusion, and ensures consistent implementation across schools.

Critical clarification: judicial vs. administrative warrants

Not all "warrants" are the same. School staff should not rely on verbal statements from officers.

Judicial warrant

Signed by a judge. Legally enforceable. Schools must comply.

Administrative warrant (ICE forms)

Not signed by a judge. Does not grant access to schools or students.

Learn more about the difference →

How this policy can be adopted

This policy can be implemented in multiple ways:

  • As a standalone district policy, or
  • Integrated into existing policies on visitors, student records, or school safety

Implementation should include clear administrative procedures and staff training.

View active district campaigns →

Feedback requested

This is a working draft. We want to get it right before presenting it to school boards.

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