CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District offered training to principals last week focused on what to do if ICE attempts to come on campus.
The school district says the nonmandatory training was provided as an “optional resource for their use as needed and offers practical guidance in the event an immigration official shows up at their school.”
Some CMS principals received a webinar training on what to do if ICE comes to school.
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The Office of General Consul says ICE is allowed in public areas without permission of school officials including lobbies, waiting areas and parking lots.
The OGC also said schools must comply… pic.twitter.com/e4nExne2cT
The training says ICE agents are allowed in public areas including parking lots, lobbies and waiting areas. This is in line with the policy for other law enforcement agencies. The training says any agent wanting access to classrooms or private areas will need a warrant.
Staff is instructed to notify the Office of General Counsel of any ICE agent activity. The OGC will confirm whether ICE has a valid warrant or subpoena. If the warrant is valid, schools must comply.
In an appearance on Charlotte Talks Thursday morning, CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill said the training is to ensure staff knows about the law and to follow it.
“We pride ourselves in making sure our schools are safe, and we have been very clear about what is in place and what we will follow,” Hill said.
Hill also confirmed ICE has not attempted to visit a CMS campus.
Gilbert Pagan, of Hispanos Del Sur, is in favor of the CMS policy. But he says he doesn’t expect ICE to be visiting schools any time soon.
“I think that if it’s open to the public, they should be able to go there and do that,” Pagan said.
He predicted ICE would opt against school enforcement because it would create too much havoc.
West Charlotte High School parent Pamela Tenorio told Channel 9 she is worried the policy will scare students and families.
“It’s a terrible situation because they feel stressed,” she said.
CMS is required to provide an education to all students regardless of status. Hill says CMS doesn’t collect immigration status and teachers cannot volunteer that information if they know it.
The principals who took the training were told to document as much information as possible after an ICE visit and to ask agents where someone is being taken if an arrest is made.
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