23 states debated new rules for ICE visits to public schools this year
Fewer than half of the legislative proposals reviewed by NPR resulted in enacted laws, leaving many district leaders without clear state-level guidance.
By Oliver Bennett ·
Twenty-three states considered legislative proposals this year to govern how federal immigration officers interact with K-12 public schools. An analysis by NPR found that at least 40 specific bills were introduced across those jurisdictions. Of those 40 proposals, 35 sought to limit federal access to campuses and students. Only one proposal, from Mississippi, explicitly required schools to cooperate with immigration enforcement.
The push for state-level legislation followed a federal shift in policy. At the start of President Donald Trump's second term, the administration rescinded a guideline that protected schools and other sensitive locations from immigration enforcement. A statement from the Department of Homeland Security said criminals would no longer hide in schools or churches. The agency stated it would not tie the hands of law enforcement. Thomas Saenz, general counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said the removal of the federal protection is driving states to create their own safeguards.
Despite the volume of proposed bills, few became law. Only 11 of the 40 reviewed proposals were enacted by the beginning of the current school year. Lawmakers in Minnesota, Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, and Nebraska considered measures to restrict access. Several of these bills specified that officers must possess a warrant before entering. Other proposals aimed to define the roles of school resource officers and campus police during immigration-related arrests.
In contrast, Mississippi passed a law requiring government entities, including school districts, to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. A few other states considered requiring school boards to adopt written policies on how to respond to authorities on property. At least eight states already had existing laws governing these interactions before 2026 began. Connecticut, Maryland, and Oregon considered additional legislation this year despite having prior statutes.
Some proposals sought to designate school campuses as sensitive locations. West Virginia, Hawaii, and Kansas introduced such measures, but none passed. Tennessee lawmakers considered a bill to track the legal status of students. Representative Jason Zachary, a Republican from Knoxville, argued that legislators need data to make informed decisions. He noted that the state does not currently know the attendance numbers for children who are in the country illegally. The bill did not reach a final vote.
Another Tennessee proposal would have prohibited schools from serving as staging areas for immigration operations. Representative Gabby Salinas, a Democrat from Memphis, sponsored that bill. She said it is difficult to teach when students are worried about being detained. That proposal also failed. In Minnesota, lawmakers considered five different proposals following an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis earlier this year. None of those five bills reached a final vote.
School leaders in Minnesota are operating without a specific state law. Principal Kenny Newby of Justice Alan Page Elementary School in Maplewood relies on district policies. He said staff should welcome officers, ask for paperwork, and notify administrators. If officers have a warrant, they are directed to the district office. Newby stated that the school would not allow officers to have direct contact with students. Principal Rob Reetz of Mounds View High School in Arden Hills said a state law would simplify interactions, particularly for sports teams playing in other districts. He noted that it is currently unclear which district's protocols apply if officers appear at an away game.
