fbpx Skip to Main Content

Immigration

Aspire Public Schools is committed to providing a safe environment for students to receive a high quality education. We serve all students, including students who are undocumented or who have undocumented families. We value diversity and believe that the diverse backgrounds of our students and families help create a rich educational environment. To ensure that students and families feel safe on our campuses we do not collect any information about the immigration status of our students, and we have enacted polices prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race and national origin.

Read Aspire’s resolutions on our commitment to Dreamers and immigrant children in the Aspire community:

Information for families regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement expected actions targeting immigrant families for raids, deportation, and family separation. 

This information is intended to be a resource for families; it is not legal advice.

  • You can take important steps now to prepare for an emergency situation. Make sure you have provided the most up-to-date information on your schools’ emergency card, including multiple adults that could potentially pick a child up from school.
  • In addition, review a sample Family Preparedness Plan (from Immigrant Legal Resource Center) and use to create your own: English, Spanish, Chinese.

Know Your Rights:

  • Do not answer questions without a lawyer: If you are undocumented, have a pending immigration case in court, or are being questioned about a person in such a situation, you should give your true and correct name but should not answer any other questions.
  • Do not open the door unless the officer/agent shows you a warrant: You do not have to open the door for an immigration agent unless they slip an arrest warrant that has your name or is signed by a judge or magistrate under the door. If you are detained, you will be allowed to make a phone call so memorize a number you can call.
  • Keep a Red Card with you: Regardless of immigration status, all people have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. Print red cards from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and use the guidance on them to assert your rights in situations such as if ICE agents go to your home.

Printable “Red Cards” – click to access full resource in multiple languages.

1. Know Your Rights & Ensure Others Know Theirs:

2. Be an Ally in Action:  

  • The  deportation defense hotline from United We Dream is 1-844-363-1423 – use it if you witness an I.C.E. Raid or any other immigration activity in your community.
  • Volunteer legal services with We The Action, a digital platform that makes it easy for lawyers to find and volunteer for critical, impactful, and urgent legal needs. Lawyers can sign up to access projects here and nonprofits who need lawyers can sign up here.
  • Call on your Senators and Representatives to restrict funding to Border Patrol and ICE, which were responsible for family separation, the recent deaths of children in custody, and are now planning to terrorize families and communities across the country with raids. Dial 1-202-224-3121 to be connected now. 

3. Support Organizations Doing Critical Work:

  • Click here to find a list of organizations providing assistance and legal aid to immigrant families. Learn about groups such as Al Otro Lado, Justice in Motion and the Southern Border Communities Coalition, who are on the front lines in reuniting families, providing legal representation, and advocating for policies to support immigrant communities.
  • Connect with and support your local and regional non-profit legal services providers across the country.

Legal Resource Guides: 

Know Your Rights: Printable Documents 

An Update on DACA

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is based on a 2012 executive order by President Obama. On Tuesday, September 5, 2017, the current administration announced the repeal of DACA, which will happen slowly over the next six months.

Aspire’s Stance – We Stand with Dreamers

Aspire Public Schools is committed to providing a safe environment for students to receive a high quality education.  We serve all students, including students who are undocumented or who have undocumented families.  We value diversity and believe that the diverse backgrounds of our students and families help create a rich educational environment.  To ensure that students and families feel safe on our campuses we do not collect any information about the immigration status of our students, and we have enacted policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race and national origin.

Additionally, the Aspire Board of Directors passed the following resolution:

ASPIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ COMMITMENT TO THE DREAMERS IN THE ASPIRE COMMUNITY

The meeting of the Board of Directors of Aspire Public Schools (“Aspire”) was called to order on September 14, 2017 pursuant to notice and a quorum was present for the transaction of business.

WHEREAS, Aspire operates public charter schools in communities with significant populations of undocumented persons;

WHEREAS, on September 5, 2017, the Trump administration announced its intention to wind down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) program, which grants deferred action from deportation for undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as minors; and

WHEREAS, the announcement had an immediate impact on the Aspire community and in the regions and neighborhoods that Aspire serves.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Directors of Aspire that:

Aspire supports DACA and undocumented students and families, shall endeavor to compile and publish a list of resources to assist members of the Aspire community who are impacted by the decision, and shall advocate for legislation that supports a path to citizenship for DACA recipients and DACA-eligible individuals within the Aspire community.

If you have any questions about our commitment to serving all families, please feel free to contact us at info@aspirepublicschools.org.  Additionally, here are some frequently asked questions about our practices at Aspire:

FAQs

Q: Does a parent’s immigration status or a child’s immigration status affect whether the child can attend public school?

A: No. The 14th Amendment of the Constitution provides a right of equal access to education to children regardless of their immigration status or their parents’ immigration status.

Q: Does Aspire Public Schools ask for a child’s immigration status?

A: No. Aspire enrolls students regardless of their immigration status or any other protected classification. Aspire does not ask for immigration status at the time of enrollment or at any time. Aspire does not maintain any record of any information regarding immigration status and therefore cannot share that information with any federal immigration officials.

Q: What does Aspire do to ensure that no student or family is discriminated against or harassed because of their race, ethnicity, religion, national origin or other protected classification?

A: Aspire believes deeply in ensuring equity and in providing safe learning environments for students. Aspire enforces its policies that mandate no discrimination or harassment for our students, families, or employees on the base of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin and any other protected classification.

Q: What should I do if I feel like I have been the victim of discrimination or harassment?

A: Please report the behavior immediately to a supervisor or school leader. We take these issues very seriously to ensure that our schools continue to be safe spaces where all are welcome and valued.

Q: How can I learn more about my immigration rights?

A: You should rely on immigration attorneys and other experts to provide you with accurate advice about immigration status and how you can pursue any legal rights you might have. A list of available resources can be found below. Also, you can seek an immigration attorney from the American Immigration Lawyers Association here.

Variable Content

Learn more about DACA: There are a number of organizations that have assembled high-quality resources about the DACA program, including: Ready CaliforniaInformed Immigrant, and United We Dream.

Seek legal support: If you are a recipient of DACA or have concerns about your immigration status, consider reaching out to an immigration attorney now to determine if you have access to a better form of immigration status. Additional information can be found here.

Know your rights: All people in the United States have rights. If you are concerned about interactions with immigrations enforcement, you may want to consider carrying a red card that you can use to assert your rights if stopped or questioned.

Gateway Navigation Items