Public K-12 schools are a key part of American democracy and are required by the Constitution to provide free education to all children, no matter their immigration status. But President Trump’s recent executive orders on immigration — which break from decades of federal policy in their scope, scale, and intensity — are already impacting both schools and the students they serve.  

While these changes to immigration policies, such as allowing immigration enforcement actions in sensitive locations, will likely impact both student attendance and achievement over time, there are still many federal protections in place for immigrant students of all backgrounds. District and school leaders must fully understand these laws and policies to ensure that these federal protections are enforced. 

Sensitive Locations: How Federal Immigration Policies Affect Students and Schools provides a straightforward overview of the federal immigration laws and related protections that district and school leaders must understand to serve their students, families, and communities. Now, more than ever, education leaders are responsible for upholding these protections to maintain safe and welcoming environments for every student.