Immigration Resources for Families

Recent pronouncements on the national stage have prompted many pertinent questions about how Albuquerque Public Schools and APS Charters handle immigration-related issues. It’s a difficult time, but we want you to know this above all: We are responsible for all students’ safety and well-being while they are at school, and it’s a duty we take seriously.

Here are some key things to know on the subject:

• DATA believes every student deserves a safe, supportive learning environment.
• In alignment with APS, any order or directive by immigration officials or local law enforcement officials to any district personnel to bring forth a student for interrogation on their immigration status or to provide any information about a student that may reveal the student’s citizenship or immigration status shall be denied and related immediately to the school Director and APS Police.
• DATA does not collect nor keep records of any student’s immigration status.
• NMPED has been conducting trainings to make certain school leaders and staff members are aware of these protocols and that they are being followed.
• Neither the constitution of the state of New Mexico nor state law establishes citizenship as a requirement for school-age children to attend public school.
• The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled citizenship status cannot be used to deny public school admission to school-age children.
• State law dictates that schools cannot deny admission to a school-age child (up to age 21) on the basis of known or suspected undocumented status, or engage in any practice to deter or discourage the right of a student to attend public school.