Texas school district warns parents Border Patrol may question or deport students
A Texas school district recently sent a letter to parents, warning them that Border Patrol agents may start boarding school buses and questioning students about their citizenship status. The letter, which was also posted on Facebook but later deleted, stated that U.S. Border Patrol agents may be boarding school buses at highway checkpoints in and out of the Valley, asking students to provide proof of legal citizenship.
Alice Independent School District Superintendent Anysia Trevino wrote in the letter, “We want to bring to your attention an important matter regarding student travel for extracurricular activities, including sports, band, and other co-curricular events.” The letter also warned that if a student is found without proper documentation, they may be removed from the bus, detained, and possibly deported under current immigration policies. Additionally, providing false information about citizenship status could result in a permanent bar to future U.S. citizenship.
The letter advised families to be aware of the potential implications of these encounters and stated that they were reviewing student travel waivers to include language about the possibility of Border Patrol agents boarding school buses. The superintendent also mentioned considering additional measures, such as having a designated chaperone vehicle travel with school buses to ensure that a school administrator can stay with a detained student while the rest of the group continues their journey.
This warning comes amidst recent changes in immigration policies, with West Oso ISD also sending out a letter to parents informing them of the new procedures in place. The Department of Homeland Security recently reversed a policy that had previously limited ICE arrests at sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals. The letter from West Oso ISD assured parents that the district does not collect or maintain any information regarding immigration status and that ICE must show proper documentation before taking any action on school campuses.
A statement released by a DHS spokesperson clarified that Acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman issued directives empowering law enforcement to protect Americans by rescinding previous guidelines that limited ICE and CBP enforcement actions near sensitive areas. This action now allows law enforcement to enter schools, medical facilities, places of worship, and events that were previously protected under the policy.
In light of these changes, school districts are taking proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of their students. Parents are encouraged to stay informed and reach out to school administrators with any concerns about the new immigration policies affecting student travel and safety.
