President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders targeting illegal immigration upon taking office on Jan. 20. These include Executive Orders 14159 and 14161, which aim to identify and deport undocumented immigrants and tighten the process of acquiring visas. Trump has also banned the CBP One app, which provided immigrants with services to achieve legal entry into the United States.
In compliance with Trump’s mandate, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has initiated several searches across the country to deport undocumented immigrants.
“Even though ICE has the intention to deport illegal immigrants, people who are not illegal immigrants still fear them because they have been involved in wrongful deportations [before],” junior Michael Jiang said. “ICE creates fear in the community, specifically for marginalized communities, as ICE has the power to break away families and communities.”
Under Executive Order 14148, the Department of Homeland Security lifted a restriction on ICE that prevents it from entering certain locations, such as schools, places of worship and other “sensitive locations.”
Despite these orders, FCPS does not intend to allow ICE to search schools without a proper court warrant.
“We are continuing to follow the law. The 1982 Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe established that all children, regardless of immigration status, have the right to a public education,” Superintendent Michelle Reid said.
“Hello FCPS Community,
I am reaching out today because I want to acknowledge the numerous concerns and questions you are raising and the media queries we are receiving about recent national policy decisions around immigration that may impact our students, their families, and staff and their families, as well as many of our neighbors and friends.
We know that public education is the cornerstone of a successful community. As we center ourselves in our humanity, we will continue to do all that we can – to the fullest extent allowable by law – to protect our students and staff and to ensure access to safe and vibrant learning spaces for our students, families, and staff. We know that learning happens best in community, and I am counting on our community.
We are continuing to follow the law. The 1982 Supreme Court decision regarding Plyer v. Doe established that all children, regardless of immigration status, have the right to a public education. This was a result of the state of Texas enacting a law allowing school districts to deny enrollment to undocumented children. The Supreme Court ruled that this law violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, emphasizing that public education is a critical government function vital to preparing all children for a productive role in society.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, enacted in 1974, also protects the privacy of student information. To be clear, Fairfax County Public Schools is not permitted by law to collect the immigration status of our students or their families.
Our posted policies reaffirm our commitment to provide safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning spaces for all students and their families. School administrators have access to resources that can be shared with families who have concerns. We have clear plans in place to respond to the shifting federal policies and our principals have received clear direction from me on the expected response should a federal law enforcement official come to a school. As we continue to follow the law, we will do everything within our authority to protect our students and staff.
Finally, while some things may be changing around us, what remains unchanging is our commitment to ensuring all students benefit from a world-class education here in FCPS. We will remain in the light.”
— Michelle Reid, Superintendent
FCPS’s position has relieved some students who fear searches and arrests by ICE. In large cities such as Chicago, ICE has already begun searching schools for undocumented immigrants, facing resistance from school officials.
“Making school a safe place lifts a huge load off a lot of students who are probably worrying about the other threats that Trump is making,” senior Daniel Campos-Morales said.
ICE has not come to FCPS for legal status checks yet, but there is still potential for them to visit.
“Schools should be a place to learn, not a place to fear being at. If ICE comes here, students might stop trusting staff,” a McLean senior who asked to remain anonymous said. “It turns a place meant for growth into a fearful one.”
The Trust Policy, established by FCPS in 2021, allows students and families to access FCPS benefits and services without disclosing their immigration status to federal authorities.
“Our [policy] ensures that we do not share individuals’ immigration status with law enforcement, and it is more important now than ever,” Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said. “Our priorities remain unchanged, and we continue to uphold our policies.”
Under the Trust Policy, all FCPS employees must refer requests from ICE for information or searches to the Office of Division Counsel, FCPS’s legal department.
Trump’s orders have frightened McLean students without permanent U.S. residence who have immediate family outside the country.
“When I first read the new policies, it made me feel slightly uneasy. My family and I have been waiting years for our green cards [and visas], and now with delays, it feels like everything’s getting harder,” the anonymous senior said. “All I can do is pray that some restriction isn’t imposed that prevents my father from coming back home.”
Since Trump just took office, the long-term impact of these immigration orders remains unclear.
“We understand that we must be strategic in our response and focus on the right priorities,” McKay said. “I encourage my constituents to keep in mind that the future is uncertain, and we must navigate each day as it comes.”
