Chicago Public Schools officials are attempting to alleviate fears amid President Donald Trump’s promise of increased federal immigration enforcement actions in the city.
The district is reminding parents that it already has policies in place for interacting with federal agents. CPS doesn’t share student records with U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement officials and doesn’t allow agents to enter school facilities without a criminal warrant signed by a judge. It also doesn’t ask a family’s immigration status.
CPS has also created a guidance document on how families can stay safe in their communities. And the district has partnered with the city’s Office of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights to promote family preparedness workshops being held this month.
But parents still have questions about what happens outside the school day. We collected some answers from the district and advocates.
What if I don’t feel safe walking or driving my child to school?
The district has several tips for concerned families. They include planning a walking path ahead of time and taking Safe Passage routes if their schools have them. These routes can be found online. Families are also encouraged to carpool or use a buddy system if taking public transportation.
They can lean on the community for help, said Any Huamani, an organizer with Brighton Park Neighborhood Council who also co-leads a rapid response team on the Southwest Side.
“We are doing a call to our community members, if they are not in a vulnerable situation to please provide that help, that extra support,” Huamani said. “Only we can keep each other safe.”
It’s also important for families to know where they can go for help if they are feeling unsafe while on their trip. CPS suggests stopping inside places such as churches, firehouses, police stations, community centers and park fieldhouses. But Huamani noted that federal officers can enter public spaces without warrants and urged residents to keep that in mind.
Can my child do school work from home?
At the moment, if your child does not show up for school, they will be marked absent. But many teachers say they will make sure that students get work and will post assignments online.
Chicago Public Schools have continued to stress that school is the safest place for students and do not plan to offer a remote learning option to students. “In-person instruction continues to provide the strongest foundation for learning,” school district officials said in a statement.
However, they added that they are monitoring the situation and will reassess if necessary.
CPS created a virtual academy high school and elementary school after the pandemic, but enrollment is reserved for students who can’t attend school in-person for medical reasons. About 500 students are enrolled in those two schools.
Is CPS organizing anything like walking buses for schools?
CPS is encouraging communities to organize their own groups of “walking school buses,” which are groups of children being escorted to school by one or more adults. “Its safer to travel with friends and family members than traveling alone,” CPS said. Online resources offer advice on how to start a walking group.
Local neighborhood organizations can also help connect families to organize walks. Community members can use those connections to create a network to share information quickly, whether that be through texting or social media.
Huamani added that once created these groups can be called upon to help with other necessities, such as with grocery store pickups or running errands.
“We’re emphasizing on relying on each other” during this time, she said.
What if I am detained while my child is at school?
CPS strongly recommends that parents have an emergency contact to call if no one picks up their child. The district said it is in the process of making sure all students emergency contact information is up to date.
If there is no emergency contact on file, CPS would eventually have to call DCFS but that is “always considered the absolute last recourse.”
Huamani urges families to have an emergency plan in place. That includes collecting important information and phone numbers such as the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights family support hotline at 855-435-7693, which can help connect families with attorneys, she said.
“Gather all your documents because unfortunately we can’t tell people that it won’t happen when kids are at school,” Huamani said.