Supporting Immigrant Students and Families
All students in the U.S. have a constitutionally protected right to education regardless of immigration status, supported by multiple legal frameworks:
FEDERAL PROTECTIONS
Plyler v. Doe (1982): Supreme Court ruling guarantees free public education for all children and prohibits states from creating enrollment barriers
Resources: Plyler Fact Sheet, Plyler Questions and Answers https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/crt/legacy/2014/05/08/plylerfact.pdf
FERPA: Protects student record confidentiality, limiting information sharing with third parties including immigration officials except under specific legal circumstances
CALIFORNIA STATE LAWS
AB 699 (Safe Schools for Immigrant Students): https://www.lacoe.edu/content/dam/lacoeedu/documents/generalcounsel/immigrant-relations/immigration-relations/resources-for-educators-and-administrators/AB%20699%20Implementation%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
- Prohibits collecting immigration status information
- Requires policies preventing immigration enforcement on campus
- Forbids immigration status-based discrimination
Education Code § 234.1: Explicitly prohibits discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on immigration status
RESOURCES
Immigration and California families (all languages)
https://www.ca.gov/immigration/
Know Your Educational Rights-Guide for Students and Families (English)
Know Your Educational Rights-Guide for Students and Families (Spanish)
Family Preparedness Safety Plan (English)
Family Preparedness Safety Plan (Spanish)
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles: https://lafla.org
National Immigration Legal Services Directory: https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory/search?zip=90242&x=3&y=14
Watch: We have Rights Videos in multiple languages: https://www.wehaverights.us/