Resource Page: Immigrant Students’ Rights

Resource Type: Fact Sheets, Self-advocacy Tools
Focus Area: immigrant students' rights

In January 2025, the Trump administration rescinded a “Sensitive Locations” Memo that previously prohibited immigration enforcement activity at schools, childcare centers, hospitals and churches. Schools should be safe, welcoming places where every student can learn and thrive. But when immigration enforcement activity and disinformation create fear and confusion, immigrant students and their families may feel uncertain about their rights and what schools must do to protect them. Unfortunately, immigration enforcement activity has been documented on and around school grounds since this change in federal policy (see the tracker at K-12 Dive).

To support educators, parents, and community partners, we’ve compiled key resources that explain students’ rights, schools’ responsibilities, and tools for navigating these issues with confidence and clarity.

School-related Resources

• Practical Steps to Protect Immigrant Students’ Rights in Pennsylvania Schools – Public Webinar (ELC-PA and ACLU-PA) (Feb 2026)
  This recorded webinar provides practical steps students, families and educators can take to protect immigrant students’ rights in Pennsylvania schools.
  Download PDF: Practical Steps to Protect Immigrant Students’ Rights in Pennsylvania Schools (Slides)
  View Recording: Practical Steps to Protect Immigrant Students’ Rights in Pennsylvania Schools (Webinar)
  
• Spotlight on Your Rights: Immigrant Students and Families Have Important Rights in School (ELC-PA)
  This overview outlines the basic rights of immigrant students and their families in educational settings. It explains what schools are legally obligated to do and what families should know to ensure learning isn’t disrupted.
  Download PDF: Immigrant Students and Families Have Important Rights in School (English)
  Descargar PDF: Estudiantes inmigrantes y sus familias tienen derechos importantes en la escuela (Espanol)
• Letter to Schools on Rights and Responsibilities (ACLU-PA & ELC-PA)
  This letter, which has been shared with school leaders across Pennsylvania, clarifies schools’ legal obligations, outlines student privacy protections, and reaffirms families’ rights in the context of immigration enforcement actions. It can be used as guidance or adopted by school districts and advocates.
  Download PDF: ACLU-PA & ELC-PA Letter to Schools re: Legal Rights of Immigrant Students in Pennsylvania Schools

• Legal Rights of Immigrant Students – Public Webinar (ELC-PA, ACLU-PA and HIAS-PA) (Feb 2025)
  This recorded webinar provides an in-depth look at the legal rights of immigrant students in school, including enrollment, privacy protections, and how schools should respond to immigration enforcement activity. It includes helpful explanations and actionable guidance for families and educators alike.
  Download PDF: Legal Rights of Immigrant Students in Pennsylvania Schools (Slides)
  View Recording: Legal Rights of Immigrant Students in Pennsylvania Schools (Webinar)

• Parents and Guardians can opt-out of sharing a student’s personal information (ELC-PA):
  Parents and guardians have the right to request that their school not share their student’s “directory information” which often includes a student’s name, address, place of birth and more. To keep their information private, guardians must complete an opt-out form provided by their school or the form attached to this explainer, How to Opt-Out of Sharing Personal Student Information (known as “directory information”).
• The Pennsylvania Department of Education has issued Guidance to LEAs Relating to Immigration Enforcement Actions.
  
• Early childhood centers, preschools and daycares should review an advisory from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human Services  that was shared by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) urging providers to create policy and procedures for what to do if immigration enforcement agents arrive on facility property or seek information about individuals served. Additional policy guidance is available from CLASP, Guide Creating “Safe Space” Policies for Early Childhood Programs.
• Many immigrant students are also learning English and entitled to supports and instruction in school to overcome language barriers. See more about the Rights of Multilingual and Culturally Diverse Students and Families (ELC-PA).

Additional Resources

• Immigrant families in Pennsylvania that may be subject to immigration enforcement should consider emergency family planning described in this guide from Pennsylvania family law attorneys, Planning for Custody: An Informational Guide for Immigrant Families (en Espanol: Custodia Infantil para Padres y Cuidadores, Guia Informativa para Familias Inmigrantes)
  
• Immigrant Rights resources and legal advocacy resources collected by HIAS-PA in multiple languages
• To connect with immigrant rights advocacy in Pennsylvania, contact Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition (PIC) or the many organizations listed by county here.

If your community group or school would like a presentation from ELC-PA about these issues, please contact our Helpline at [email protected] or 215-238-6970.

 

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