Understanding the Rights of Undocumented Students as School Attendance Declines Amid Deportation Fears 

Schools, long considered safe from immigration enforcement, now stand at the center of growing uncertainty. Parents question whether sending their children to class will expose them to a risk that once seemed unimaginable. 

However, U.S. law guarantees every child access to public education, regardless of immigration status. The Supreme Court’s ruling in Plyler v. Doe cemented that undocumented children have the same right to attend school as citizens. For undocumented students (or any student for that matter), schools cannot deny enrollment, demand proof of legal residency, or create obstacles that discourage attendance. Yet fear overshadows these legal protections, with families unsure whether federal agents might test the limits.

How Schools Are Responding

Some school districts are taking steps to reassure families: 

• Denver: Principals have been instructed to deny entry to immigration authorities without a valid school-related reason. 

• San Diego: Policies bar ICE agents from entering campuses without a court order. 

• Philadelphia: School staff have been ordered not to provide student information to federal officials without legal approval. 

• Salt Lake City: The district reminded families that it does not track immigration status and urged them to keep emergency contact information updated. 

Despite these efforts, unease lingers. Federal law prohibits schools from sharing student records with external agencies without a warrant, but many wonder how far immigration authorities will go in testing these restrictions. The mere possibility of enforcement is enough to keep some students home. 

The Consequences of Keeping Children Out of School

Denying education has broader implications beyond individual families: 

• Creates a permanent underclass by trapping children in poverty with little chance for upward mobility. 

• Increases racial and social divisions as immigrant communities become further marginalized. 

• Weakens the economy by limiting future workforce participation and productivity. 

• Contributes to misinformation by fueling fear and xenophobia, making immigrants an easy target in political discourse. 

What Families Need to Know About the Rights of All Students, Including Undocumented Students

While the future remains uncertain, immigrant parents still have rights when it comes to their children’s education: 

• Schools cannot ask about legal status or demand proof of citizenship. 

• A Social Security number is not required for enrollment. 

• Immigration agents cannot enter schools without a court order. 

• Schools must protect student records from federal agencies unless legally compelled to release them. 

These protections remain in place, but shifting policies have left families questioning how long they will last. The right to an education is legally protected — but the fear of losing it is already taking its toll.