Several school districts in Wisconsin are drawing scrutiny after memos circulated instructing staff not to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) onto school property — guidance that comes as the Trump administration has moved to end Biden-era limits on immigration enforcement at “sensitive” locations like schools.
TPA Rep Brady Penfield highlighted one of the memos in a post on X, sharing screenshots and writing, “BREAKING: North-Western Wisconsin School Districts are informing staff that they can NOT allow ICE into the building. Furthermore, staff can ‘not ask about a family’s legal status’ and can ‘not contact outside agencies unless required by district protocol.’ Allegedly much larger neighboring School Districts of River Falls and Hudson have sent similar memos to their staff.”
He concluded, “For context, Prescott is in Northwest Wisconsin about 40 minutes away from the Twin Cities Metro in Minnesota. Who knows how many school districts statewide and nationwide are sending similar memos potentially impeding ICE activities?” (RELATED: Derrick Van Orden Breaks Ranks on ACA Subsidies to Protect Healthcare Access for Wisconsin)
Several school districts in Wisconsin, including Hudson Valley, have been confirmed to be issuing similar memos and statements, informing parents, teachers, and staff that ICE will not be welcome on their campuses.
“I want to assure everyone that our administration is well-versed in state laws and policies that outline our responsibilities for safeguarding our students in such situations,” the Kingston School District said, according to Hudson Valley One. “Our security team and SROs have been briefed, and our building leaders are aware of the policies and procedures for any necessary response. Additional communications will be sent if needed. The safety of our students is always a top priority.”
School district administrators are citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as legal justification to avoid sharing information with ICE Agents. (RELATED: Trump Administration Grants Iowa Historic Control Over Federal Education Funding)
“Our FERPA policy has not changed,” Eau Claire Public Schools superintendent Mike Johnson told WEAU in an interview. “We share directory data, really, that’s all we can shar,e and that’s all that we’ll share. We only ask for pertinent information from families, and we do not ask for immigration status when students enroll in our school district, so again, FERPA policy hasn’t changed.”
The Trump Administration lifted a Biden-Era rule that allowed certain facilities, including schools, to be considered “safe havens” from immigration enforcement policies.“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a 2025 statement. “The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”
