Educating Undocumented Students: Legal Responsibilities, Best Practices and Latest Policy Action

In 1982, the Supreme Court ruled in Plyler v. Doe that undocumented immigrant children had the right to attend public schools. In the years since that decision, immigration enforcement actions by ICE and other law enforcement agencies have created tension with the ruling in Plyler.

This presentation featured Maree Sneed and Ray Li, attorneys at Hogan Lovells LLP, who described the rights of undocumented students and the challenges that they face.

Specifically, they addressed the legal landscape around how schools should responsibly handle campus access for immigration and law enforcement officials and how school officials should respond to information requests from immigration officials.

In addition, Superintendent Todd Morrison from Honey Grove, Texas, who made headlines when he acted to support students after his small district was impacted by an ICE raid, shared what he has learned from leading through this crisis and hear what he recommends other superintendents do to help immigrant students during this difficult time.

Finally, Sasha Pudelski, advocacy director at AASA, spoke about the latest regulations and legislative activity impacting immigrant children in schools on Capitol Hill.