State Department Resources

NJDOE Office of Emergency Preparedness

– School-Related State and Federal Requirements Pertaining to Immigrant Students and Families

​- School Protocols for Immigration Enforcement

– Federal and State Requirements

– Considerations, including highlights; 

The NJDOE encourages school communities to continually improve their systems of support to ensure all students feel welcome and to best prepare for any circumstance that threatens the safety of its students. Therefore, the NJDOE has provided considerations below to help school communities collaboratively design systems of support and prepare for and mitigate any threats to student safety.

Security

• Do you have policies/procedures for communicating with immigration agents (e.g., ICE)?  Are all staff knowledgeable about these policies/procedures?
• Does your front office staff know what a judicial search or arrest warrant looks like?
• Are all staff aware of the school premises building access and visitor policy? 
• Are all staff aware of FERPA regulations and state regulations (N.J.A.C. 6A:22-3.3) in regard to sharing student information?
• Does your LEA have robust data privacy and security measures to protect the sensitive information of all students?
• Are all staff trained in data privacy best practices?
• Are students’ emergency contact and school pickup information up-to-date? 
• Have protocols related to school discipline and truancy been reviewed to minimize student encounters with law enforcement and the judicial system?
• Are there safe walking routes protocols in place for walking districts?

Communication

• Are district resources available in multiple languages so they are accessible to all families? (Resource: Translation Services by County)
• Have you identified staff members who can act as liaisons between the LEA and immigrant communities?
• Do school staff know what to do if a media outlet reaches out to educators?
• Have families been engaged and informed of their rights related to immigration and how schools intend to ensure the security and safety of their students?
• Are students aware of their rights regarding recording encounters?

Families

• Do your students’ families have access to Immigration Rights Resources and “Know Your Rights“  information? 
• Do your students’ families have a Family Preparedness Plan to address immigration circumstances? 
• Do your students’ families have access to Pro Bono Legal Service Providers? 
• Do your families know what a Power of Attorney is  and whether they should have one?
• Are your students and families aware of the FAFSA graduation requirement waiver available to them?
• Do your students’ families have access to the Immigration Resources made available by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families’ New Jersey Youth Resource Spot?

Community

• Have you done any outreach to immigrant communities to inform them of available community resources related to immigration rights?
• Have you partnered with local organizations that offer legal advice, mental health services, and other forms of support, and facilitated connections between these organizations and families in need?

Well-Being

• Is staff trained in culturally competent trauma-informed practices?
• Are mental health counseling services available to all students outside of school, including resources for immigrants and refugees?
• What stress management techniques can the school implement to help students cope with uncertainty and anxiety? 
• How are educators of students affected by trauma being supported?

– Deportation-Related Trauma, including highlights;

• NJDOE Trauma-Informed/Trauma-Sensitive Practices
• Teaching Tolerance: Supporting Immigrant and Undocumented Students
• Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package (National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments)
  Supporting Immigrant Families and Students
• Guiding Caregivers: How to Talk to a Child about Deportation or Separation
• The Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative (TLPI)

NJDHS Office of New Americans

Know Your Rights Materials: Individuals, Organizations & Businesses, at the Airports, Expedited Removal

• Including Posters & Videos (in multiple languages)