Immigration Resources

Welcoming Schools Training

This training focuses on legislation, policies, and best practices for creating a welcoming school for all students and families. To support compliance with California Attorney General guidance, it includes information on procedures for handling sensitive student information and anti-bullying policies as well as immigration enforcement-related scenarios. 

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Responding to Requests from Immigration Officers

Administrators or counsel for a school district who have questions, concerns, or information about ICE activities or enforcement at schools, please email the California Department of Justice at immigration@doj.ca.gov. A presentation for school administrators and officials to review the California Attorney General’s model procedures for responding to requests from immigration officers for access to the non-public areas of a school campus or to student information.

• Planning for Immigration Enforcement On or Near School Grounds: These planning considerations include the difference between public and non-public areas and possible scenarios to consider before, during, and in the days after enforcement activity on or near a school campus.
• Proposed Policies and Tactics (PDF): These include policies and tactics that had been identified through campaign statements and interviews as being under consideration by the incoming administration.
• Potential Impacts (PDF): Any combination of changes to immigration enforcement are likely to create prolonged, successive, and overlapping crises for school communities. These potential impacts are based on previous administration policies and their impacts. It includes additional impacts on identifying students who qualify for McKinney-Vento protections.
• Planning Considerations (PDF): These planning considerations include partnering with community groups and local law enforcement to discuss and plan for specific possible scenarios involving students and families. It includes additional considerations on McKinney-Vento protections and mental health.

• Emergency Operations Procedure: Immigration Enforcement On or Near Campus (PDF): This modifiable template is useful for anticipating and responding to situations in which there is immigration enforcement activity on or near campus. It is aligned with the recent state law, Senate Bill 98. 
  • Senate Bill 98 Notification Guidance: This sample document includes notification considerations and example criteria aligned with the legal requirement of incorporating procedures for notifying “parents and guardians of pupils, teachers, administrators, and school personnel when the school confirms the presence of immigration enforcement on the school site” into their Comprehensive School Safety Plans (CSSP) no later than March 1, 2026. Find CSSP resources on the School Safety webpage. 
• Emergency Operations Procedure: Child Left at School (PDF): This modifiable template is useful for anticipating and responding to a situation in which a child is waiting at school to be picked up by their parent/guardian and attempts to reach the parent/guardian have failed. The sample procedure applies to students in a variety of situations, including actual or perceived immigration actions, and includes customizable templates schools may adopt, modify, or disregard.
• Emergency Operations Procedure: Person Detained by Immigration (PDF): This modifiable template is useful for anticipating and responding to a situation in which someone within the school community has been detained by immigration. It includes sample goals and actions for before, during, and after that schools may adopt, modify, or disregard. 
• Emergency Operations Procedure: Student Demonstration (PDF): This modifiable template is useful for anticipating and responding to a situation in which students plan to or participate in a demonstration or protest during school hours. The sample procedure includes sample goals and actions that schools may adopt, modify, or disregard. 

• What to Do During Immigration Enforcement Activity (PDF): This resource contains general steps for school personnel should there be immigration enforcement activity on site. It is designed to be customized to align with district/school policies. 
• Immigration Officer Incident Report (PDF): Upon adoption by district/charter school administration, this sample form, based upon the “Model Policy on Responding to Requests for Access to School Grounds for Immigration-Enforcement Purposes” from the California Attorney General’s Office, may be completed by a school site administrator or their administrative designee if an immigration officer arrives on campus.
• Warrants and Subpoenas that May Be Used by Immigration Enforcement Officers (PDF): This document is intended to assist school site administrators in identifying the types of authority that may be provided by immigration officers making requests for access at school sites.

As of March 2025, the email address for reporting immigration enforcement incidents is now immigration@doj.ca.gov.

• California Attorney General Guidance and Model Policies to Assist California’s K-12 Schools in Responding to Immigration Issue: The purpose of the guide is to "equip local educational agencies with the updated information and resources necessary to continue to provide safe, welcoming environments for all students and to safeguard the rights and privacy of students and their families." The link to this resources was updated Dec. 5, 2025, to reflect the latest guidance. 
• California Attorney General Quick Reference Guide for School Officials: This resource focuses on the immediate response to, and preparedness for, immigration enforcement including officer credentials, documentation that authorizes school access, requests for personal information about a student or their family (both for students who are minors and those over 18), and notification of local administrators and parents/guardians. 
• Summary of Required Policy Stances Related to Immigration (Word): This summary of policies, which should be revised before being used, may be helpful in creating job-specific training aids and quick reference tools.
• Model Policies Worksheet (Word): This worksheet is a companion to the Attorney General Guidance and Model Policies referenced above and can assist in reviewing local educational agency policies for compliance with California laws. 
• Memo on Student Privacy Rights (PDF): A customizable template for use by district administrators to inform staff members about student privacy rights.

Not everyone who needs help is free to ask for it. Shame, fear, and lack of hope lead many people to suffer in silence and isolation. For families with mixed immigration status, the fear that asking for help could result in loved ones being deported makes this even more true. Use these resources to help your staff recognize the impacts and warning signs their students may experience as a result of immigration enforcement actions in your community, and ensure they know how to engage the school's system of supports to assist them.

• Silent Crisis Presentation (PowerPoint): A modifiable presentation template designed to delivered as a 30-minute staff meeting.
• Silent Crisis One-Pager (Word): A modifiable handout template that can be distributed at the end of the Silent Crisis presentation, or as a standalone document.

• General Messaging on Immigration and Student Privacy (PDF): These general message points align with state and federal law and follow the attorney general's guidance. 
• General Parent Letter on Immigration and Student Privacy (PDF): This letter, available in English and Spanish, can be customized.

One way to support families is to ensure the school has up-to-date contacts for each student in the event of an emergency, where the parent or guardian is unable to pick-up the stude

Update Your Emergency Contacts Script/Messaging: This document has information in English and Spanish that can be customized and used to communicate with your school community.

• There is customizable language for a poster or flyer encouraging families to update their emergency contacts in English and Spanish.  
• This emergency planning tools for families webpage is an example of a resource. 

Under California Education Code 48204.4, children have the right to attend a school in their district, even if they currently reside outside of California, under certain conditions. The parent letter explains the law, conditions, and evidence needed. As a distance learning program is an option, we have also included SDCOE's the Distance Learning Units of Study educator resource.

Continuing Your Child's Education - Parent Letter (PDF): This document explains for parents California Education Code 48204.4, which describes the conditions in which a child has the right to attend a school in California, even if they currently reside outside of the state. This template letter is translated into Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, Haitian Creole, and Pashto. 

Distance Learning Units of Study: These SDCOE-designed units of study in grades K-12 are focused on grade-level essential learnings in each content area. These units were purposefully designed to integrate content, provide flexibility, and choice. 

General Parent Letter on Enforcement Activity Near a School Campus (PDF): This letter, available in English and Spanish, can be customized.

Our Schools: Resources for Including Immigrant Families is a new toolkit that provides family-facing posters and cards that communicate assurance of all schools’ obligation to provide every child with access to education and a safe learning environment, regardless of immigration status. The customizable materials are currently available in English and Spanish with additional languages to be added. 

Find posters and office counter cards on the protection of students’ and families’ privacy, guidance from the Attorney General about how to respond if immigration agents are present, information about caregiver affidavits, and recommendations for updating school safety plans.

• Resources to Ensure Student Safety During Walkouts or Protests: Policy changes at the federal level may prompt students and/or staff members to initiate protests or walkouts. It's important to have plans and protocols in place in advance to ensure students and staff remain safe.
• Political Activities by Staff, Students, Candidates: SDCOE's Legal Services team compiled answers to frequently asked questions regarding campaign activities and included links to other helpful resources for further reference. Please note this resource guide is a summary only and is not intended as legal advice.

Any school age child who is not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian may qualify as unaccompanied homeless youth under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. This includes children who may have been displaced due to an immigration enforcement action.

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Definition

Children or youth who are not in the physical custody of their parent or guardian, and lack a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence. This includes:

• Staying temporarily with others due to loss of housing or economic hardship (i.e. couch surfing)
• Living in shelters, motels, vehicles, or other unstable housing situations

Is there an age limit or maximum?

There are no age-specific eligibility limits under McKinney-Vento. If a student qualifies for Transitional Kindergarten through grade12 and meets the definition of an unaccompanied homeless youth, they are eligible for services.

Is a report of suspected child abuse or neglect required if staff suspect that a child is experiencing homelessness?

California law states that being homeless or classified as an unaccompanied minor is not, by itself, sufficient reason to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Mandated reporters must consider the totality of the child’s circumstances when considering their reporting obligations.

Are there any special recommendations related to children who may become displaced by immigration enforcement actions?

California law requires local education agencies (LEA) to adopt board policies and procedures related to immigration enforcement. These include efforts that LEA’s should take to encourage parents to designate one or more trusted adults to act as a designated caregiver should the parent become separated from and unable to care for their children.  Please see this modifiable emergency plan for strategies LEA’s can use to prepare for and respond to separations that could result in a child not being picked up at school.

Resource Links

• The California Homeless Education Technical Assistance Center website has many resources, including the topical page on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth that includes a tip sheet and an archived webinar.
• SDCOE Homeless Education program staff members can help with eligibility determinations and information on educational rights of unaccompanied youth under federal and California law.