As Worcester starts school, superintendent says ICE not allowed without warrant
Superintendent Brian Allen has a message for families for the first day of school: do not fear Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In January, former Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Superintendent Rachel H. Monárrez sent a letter to parents outlining how the schools would interact with ICE. The information is posted on the school's website as well.
The public schools will not coordinate with ICE, noting that they will not allow agents to access Worcester Public Schools facilities unless they have a criminal judicial warrant signed by a federal judge, according to the website.
WPS does not ask for families' immigration statuses and does not share student records with ICE, barring rare instances when a court order or parental and or guardian consent is provided.
"A free, public education is a cornerstone of our democracy. WPS is committed to educating all children, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or immigration status," the website reads. "WPS is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety, well-being, and rights of all our children."
Additionally, school bus drivers in Worcester will not be letting students off the bus if there are immigration agents at bus stops, MassLive previously reported.
In an interview with Channel 25 on Monday, Allen reaffirmed the district's policies.
"We have protocols in place for our schools, and our school buses should ICE raids occur," Allen said.
Grades 1 to 12 start school on Monday, while students in Pre-K and kindergarten start on Thursday, according to WPS's website .
Worcester was the site of an ICE arrest on May 8, when agents arrested Brazilian mother of three, Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira .
She is currently being held at the Strafford County Corrections facility in Dover, New Hampshire, according to ICE's locator tool.
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