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Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker today announced that the Connecticut State Department of Education has issued a guidance document to every K-12 public school district in Connecticut in response to questions regarding the impact that recent changes in policy guidance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security pertaining to immigration enforcement activities may have on school operations, student privacy, and the safeguarding of students while in school.
Both Connecticut and federal law protect a student’s right to attend public school, regardless of immigration status.
This guidance is intended to provide school districts and their governing bodies with an overview of state and federal laws pertaining to student rights and the responsibilities of school districts, and assure districts, students, and families that Connecticut is welcoming to all students. It is also intended to provide districts with a framework for the development of policies and procedures that protect student rights, consistent with state and federal laws.
“Our schools are primarily places for learning and growth. It is important for our students and families to feel welcome and protected by their schools so educators can focus on teaching and students can focus on learning,” Governor Lamont said. “To achieve this, we are supporting our school leaders in developing procedures that prioritize the protection of students and their information to the fullest extent permitted by the law.”
“Students are at their best when they are in school, fully engaged in learning, and feeling safe and supported by their school community,” Commissioner Russell-Tucker said. “This guidance is designed to help school districts develop policies and procedures that are clear and aligned with state and federal law, while ensuring all students feel welcome in their classrooms.”
The document explains that Connecticut schools have no obligation to collect or maintain the immigration status of students or their family members. Then it details procedures for interacting with immigration officials should they appear at the front door.
Schools are advised to consult with district legal counsel or guidance provided by legal counsel on how to proceed depending upon:
School officials are told to maintain a calm and cooperative manner to avoid escalating the situation, increasing anxiety among the staff and students, or being perceived as obstructing or interfering with any lawful activities.
Already, a number of school districts in the state have issued guidance about how to handle potential encounters with ICE after Shipman & Goodwin posted an alert on January 22, 2025: What Schools Should Know about ICE Enforcement Actions.
Shipman's advice suggests schools should honor signed judicial warrants only.
That means administrative arrest or removal warrants issued by DHS (Form I-200 or I-205) would not be honored, and DHS officers would not receive authorization to enter.
"Should the ICE agents present an administrative arrest or removal warrant, school officials are not required to authorize the agents to enter non-public areas of the premises to locate any specific individuals. Given the security measures now taken in our schools, we generally consider any interior part of a school building to be a “non-public” area," says Shipman.
School districts across the state have already posted updated immigration guidance.
Bristol Acting Superintendent of Schools Iris White posted a letter on January 24th.
So did Norwalk Superintendent Alexandra Estrella.
As did Windham Acting Superintendent Neil Weathers.
