OKEECHOBEE — You may have heard that in January of this year President Trump rescinded a 2011 directive that prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from conducting interviews, arrests, and searches at locations like hospitals, churches, and schools. This policy change means that ICE can now make arrests at any of those locations, including your child's school campus.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated, “This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens—including murders and rapists—who have illegally come into our country. Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.”

The main target of ICE are those with a criminal history but parents of undocumented children may be wondering what will happen if ICE agents show up at their child’s school, a place formerly considered a safe space.

As of now there have been no ICE raids conducted at any Okeechobee County Schools but the district does have protocol to follow in the event that ICE agents do show up.

Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Dr. Joseph Stanley, SHRM-CP, issued the following statement regarding ICE:

“The District will treat Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as it would any other law enforcement agency. In the event ICE representatives arrive on campus, school personnel will request appropriate documentation to verify their identity and the specific individual they are seeking. The District will promptly notify the student’s parent or guardian. If the parent or guardian is unable to be present, and if the documentation permits, a school representative will remain present to observe the interaction.”

Understandably,  parents with undocumented children or who are undocumented themselves, may still have worries. Should your child be arrested, you will be notified immediately, so be sure to keep your phone near by and answer any calls from an Okeechobee County School phone number.

If your child is undocumented you may want to sit down and have a conversation with them about what to do if an ICE agent shows up and asks to speak with them. Advise your child to stay calm and absolutely do not run as running could give the ICE agent a reason to arrest them. This same advice applies to any undocumented teachers or other school staff. You also have the right to stay silent and ask for an attorney.

If you are an immigrant, the American Civil Liberties Union (https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights) advises you to be sure to carry your immigration papers with you at all times. Try to memorize your immigration number and ask friends and family members to do the same. In the event you are detained it will make it easier for them to find you.

If you have a family member who is detained by ICE you can try to locate them by using ICE’s online detainee locator at https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search. You will need the detainee’s date of birth and country of origin.