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In a letter from the school district superintendent, Las Cruces Public Schools sought to reassure immigrant families as the Trump administration unveiled its mass deportation plans, including a new directive opening the way for immigration arrests at schools, churches and hospitals.
The letter from Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz stated that the district was monitoring the situation but said LCPS would remain a welcoming place for every child, regardless of their immigration status.
“We know this has caused heightened anxiety in our community. We are monitoring these shifts and are seeking legal guidance on how they could impact our schools and our existing district policies. We are also reviewing the New Mexico Attorney General's guidance document, released yesterday,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz also said that LCPS does not collect data on students' immigration status and would not deal with immigration authorities.
“We will not initiate contact with federal immigration authorities to share student information. We will continue to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act,” Ruiz said, adding that counselors were available at all schools to assist students who might feel stressed or fearful.
Following a flurry of executive orders – some of which were immediately shot down by courts – the New Mexico Department of Justice released several documents meant to guide and inform local municipalities about the law.
“Recent immigration enforcement threats raise the prospect of immigrant families being in fear of sending their children to school. Although New Mexico cannot control the actions of federal immigration enforcement agencies, federal and New Mexico law empowers schools to welcome all students and to reassure them of their educational rights and opportunities,” the NMDOJ said in the guidance.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are as many as 4,000 undocumented children enrolled in New Mexico public schools, a statistic included in the guidance. The same data said at least 26,000 undocumented parents are residing with children in New Mexico.
“The State and its educators must do everything within their control to make all New Mexico schools safe for its students and families,” the guidance said.
