Communication Templates: Immigration Concerns

Communication templates for school leaders regarding potential immigration enforcement.

As the Trump administration took office on January 20, 2025, the president issued a number of executive orders on various matters of national significance, including immigration.

Among the actions was a reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees birthright citizenship to any individual born in the United States—regardless of the citizenship status of their parents. A new memo from the Trump Administration rescinds a 2021 memo by DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that designated schools, as well as other community services as “protected areas.” This 2021 rule stated that, to the extent possible, ICE agents should not carry out any enforcement activities in these locations.

More broadly, the new administration has called for ramping up immigration enforcement nationwide. This has led to concerns of increasing efforts to deport undocumented individuals, including children attending public schools and their family members.

As these issues come into greater focus, it may become necessary for educational leaders to communicate with their staff, students, and community members. This may include communicating about protocols, legal rights, and the concerns being felt by students and families, as well as the more general need to remain kind and respectful to one another during this time.

The following templates are provided to help schools and districts communicate about these issues with their staff, families, and communities: