INDIANAPOLIS — Officials with the Indianapolis Public Schools recently stressed that they will not allow officers with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or ICE, on school grounds without a judicial warrant.
According to a webpage from the district, IPS officials said the district is “committed to fostering a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all students and families, regardless of immigration status.”
This comes after newly elected President Donald Trump has vowed to enact mass deportations of illegal immigrants across the country. Indiana lawmakers have also proposed a bill that would require police to “report arrested individuals suspected of being in the country illegally to ICE.”
According to previous reports, officials with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said on Thursday that they have not been asked to take part in immigration sweeps and have no intention to do so.
“(IMPD) does not have the authority to enforce immigration laws,” IMPD Chief Chris Bailey said on Thursday.
The district said that they are dedicated to ensuring that all students “have the right to learn without fear.”
“Recent changes in federal directives have raised concerns, and we want to assure our community that we stand with you and are taking every step to protect your rights and well-being,” the district said on its site.
Some of the protections the district specifically covered on its site include:
- Protection against unlawful searches and seizures
- IPS said it will not permit any enforcement actions by ICE on school grounds without proper legal documentation.
- Access to trained staff
- IPS said that the district’s team has been trained to “respond appropriately to situations involving undocumented students and their families.”
- Partnership with legal counsel
- IPS said that the district collaborates with “experienced legal advisors to ensure that all actions align with the law and protect (the) community.”
The website also said that it is “essential” for IPS students and families to understand their rights. The district emphasized on its website that IPS will not ask about or disclose immigration status. They also said that ICE officers are required to present a valid warrant signed by a judge to enter school grounds.
“Indianapolis Public Schools believes that every child deserves access to education in a safe and supportive environment,” the site reads. “Together, we will continue to uphold our values of equity, inclusion and respect for all.”
According to previous reports, an additional piece of legislation filed in the 2025 session would allow school corporations in the state of Indiana to deny enrollment to undocumented students. In its current form, districts would be able to “decline the enrollment of an immigrant student if the corporation can provide documented evidence that the child is in the United States without legal status.”
For more information from the Indianapolis Public Schools, click here.
