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Safeguarding the Rights of Immigrant Students

The Amherst Central Central School District is dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for every student. We are committed to ensuring uninterrupted access to education regardless of immigration status. 

New York State guidance has been released to all school districts regarding safeguarding the rights of immigrant students.

Additionally, we have shared the advice from our attorneys with all of our administrators about their rights and responsibilities when non-local law enforcement officials, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, come to school seeking to question a student on district property. Building and District Administrators have been instructed to follow these Administrative Procedures in such situations.

Non-local law enforcement officers, including School Resource Officers, may only question a student under the following conditions:

  • They have a valid federal judicial warrant or court order signed by a federal U.S. District Court or federal magistrate judge providing court-authorized access to a student, or
  • With consent from a parent or guardian, or
  • If the student is accused of committing a crime on school property, and school or district personnel invite law enforcement officers to investigate

If none of the criteria are met, officers will not be allowed to speak to a student on school property.