Superintendents in both the Medford and Somerville school districts sent messages to students and families in late January reaffirming existing policies on immigration enforcement after President Donald Trump rescinded a federal policy that prevented immigration raids in schools.
Suzanne Galusi, Medford Public Schools’ interim superintendent, wrote in a Jan. 24 newsletter that the district does not request students’ immigration status and staff do not dismiss students to people unauthorized by parents or caregivers.
“[Our] staff members and district leaders have always and will continue to foster a sense of belonging within our school community that celebrates each students' individuality, diverse background, and many talents,” Galusi wrote.
In a Jan. 23 email, Rubén Carmona, superintendent of Somerville Public Schools, similarly affirmed that Somerville Public Schools does not request families’ immigration status or disclose student information to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Carmona also wrote that the district “will not coordinate” with ICE or “allow ICE agents access to SPS facilities without a criminal judicial warrant signed by a judge.”
“At Somerville Public Schools, we are deeply committed to supporting all of our immigrant students and families,” Carmona wrote in a statement to the Daily. “This commitment is rooted in our longstanding belief that every child has the right to access high-quality education in an inclusive and safe environment, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or immigration status.”
According to Paul Ruseau, Medford school committee secretary, although immigration officials have not conducted any raids or requested information from Medford schools, some families within the district seem to have been affected.
“There have been children who are no longer in our district because their parents have been removed,” Ruseau said.
The committee approved a policy addressing immigration enforcement in a meeting on Jan. 27. Though many of the items listed were already existing practices, the resolution intended to make the procedures easily accessible to families.
“That resolution that we put forth was to reaffirm a lot of the policies and procedures that are already in place in the Medford district,” school committee member Aaron Olapade said. “But we wanted … the public to be aware of them and have them be in one immediate place.”
The policy includes assurances that the district will not share information with immigration officials without a court order. It also lists steps for administrators to follow if ICE agents arrive at a school or confront a school-sponsored vehicle and procedures detailing how the district will respond if a student’s parents get taken into custody.
Information about immigration crackdowns circulating in the media is having an effect on students, Olapade said, especially those who are immigrants themselves or come from immigrant families.
“[Students] are coming into school unsure about what the day holds for them anymore. Usually it’s just about going to school, learning, trying to retain the content and go home,” Olapade said. “But now, because of the stories we’re seeing on the news and through media of various forms, we’re seeing that that’s not the case for some students or some students’ parents or families.”
On Jan. 31, Galusi wrote to families in a newsletter about “false social media activity” that the district leaders believed was intended to scare families in the community. False messages about a police operation appeared to be written by the “Massachusetts Department of Immigrant Protection,” a non-existent organization.
Ruseau said he recognized an increase in absences in recent weeks, though the reason is not immediately clear.
“You don’t know if they’re just not coming in because they’re sick — it’s the time of year for that,” Ruseau said. “Or are they not coming in because they’re afraid of the many rumors that are spreading? Or [is], in fact, one parent gone and the other parent is taking the kids somewhere else? We don’t have any way to know that.”
School committee member Erika Reinfeld said she has not personally received complaints or heard opposition to the committee’s policy from her constituents.
“We got a lot of support at the meeting for putting this policy on paper and I know people are aware and supportive of publicly affirming these commitments,” Reinfeld said. “There is a lot of uncertainty. I think these orders coming out of Washington are designed to stoke fear and uncertainty, and I think we are seeing that. But here in Massachusetts and Medford, we are committed to doing the right thing for our students to keep them safe as best we can.”
