23 states: Lawmakers weigh new rules for ICE presence in K-12 schools
An NPR analysis found at least 23 states considered bills governing federal immigration access to public schools this year, with only 11 becoming law.
By Fatima Saleh ·
At least 23 states considered legislative proposals this year governing how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers operate on K-12 public school grounds. An analysis by NPR found that lawmakers in those states introduced new bills to define the rules for federal agents interacting with students and staff.
The legislative push follows a federal policy change at the start of President Trump's second term. The administration rescinded a rule that previously protected schools and other sensitive locations from immigration enforcement.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 to avoid arrest. DHS added that the administration trusts law enforcement to use common sense rather than restricting their hands.
Most state proposals sought to limit federal access. Of the 40 bills reviewed by NPR, 35 aimed to restrict how much access officers have to campuses and students. Only one proposal, in Mississippi, sought to ensure schools cooperate with ICE. The remaining bills did not explicitly limit or increase access.
Thomas Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said the elimination of the federal sensitive locations policy is driving states to establish their own protections. He described the effort as a "belts and suspenders" approach.
Consensus has been difficult to reach. Only 11 of the 40 proposals became law by the beginning of the current school year. Some states, including Minnesota, Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, and Nebraska, considered restricting ICE access. Several of these bills specified that officers need a warrant to enter. Others aimed to limit what school police and school resource officers can do during immigration-related arrests.
Mississippi took a different path. The state passed a law requiring government entities, including school districts, to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. In Tennessee, lawmakers considered multiple proposals from across the political spectrum. One bill would have required schools to track the legal status of K-12 students. Tennessee Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) argued in a March hearing that legislators need data to make informed decisions about attendance. That bill did not make it to a final vote.
Another Tennessee proposal, sponsored by Rep. Gabby Salinas (D-Memphis), would have prohibited using schools as staging areas or operational bases for immigration enforcement. Salinas told NPR that it is hard to teach when students worry about being taken. That proposal also failed. At least eight states already had laws governing these interactions at the start of 2026. A few of those states, including Connecticut, Maryland, and Oregon, considered additional legislation this year.
In Minnesota, five proposals were considered after an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. None passed. Principal Kenny Newby of Justice Alan Page Elementary School in Maplewood said his district relies on internal policies. He said staff should welcome officers, ask for paperwork, and notify administrators. If officers have a warrant, Newby said they would be directed to the district office. He stressed that the school would not allow officers direct contact with students. Principal Rob Reetz of Mounds View High School in Arden Hills said a state law would simplify interactions, especially for off-site events like sports games. Reetz noted uncertainty remains about which district's protocols apply if agents appear away from a home campus.
