Phoenix School Board Bans ICE Presence on Campus

By Staff Reporter |

The Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) has taken a significant step by passing a resolution that asserts its right to refuse federal immigration officials access to school grounds. At a special meeting held last Friday, the PXU Governing Board unanimously approved the “Safe Zone Resolution,” officially designating PXU as a “Safe Zone.” This resolution empowers district officials to deny entry to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at any campus.

As part of the resolution, the board stipulated that any requests for access by ICE or related state and local law enforcement must be directed to Superintendent Thea Andrade or her designee for evaluation. The governing board asserts that Andrade holds the authority to determine whether such requests are legal or if they necessitate a judicial warrant.

Additionally, immigration enforcement agents must approach Andrade’s office to seek student information. The policy includes a clarification that the district does not collect data regarding students’ immigration status, labelling such information as “potentially discriminatory” and irrelevant to education. PXU maintains that every student, irrespective of immigration status, is entitled to a free public K-12 education, mentioning that undocumented minors may have “other legal grounds for presence” in the country, although it did not elaborate on these grounds.

The resolution emphasizes that federal immigration enforcement activities around district properties can create a disruptive environment for all students, asserting that such actions interfere with access to education. The document was presented for approval by PXU general counsel Eileen D. Fernandez, who previously served as associate general counsel for Orange County Public Schools from 2010 to 2021.

This move comes amid a broader context, as the Trump administration has indicated it will seek accountability from entities that obstruct immigration enforcement. An internal memo from the Department of Justice (DOJ), issued shortly after Trump’s inauguration, outlined concerns regarding state and local policies viewed as impediments to federal immigration initiatives. The DOJ is directed to pursue legal actions against such noncompliance, marking a significant tension between local school policies and federal immigration mandates.

Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove noted in the memo that all state and local entities are constitutionally obligated to comply with federal immigration enforcement efforts, warning that noncompliance may result in investigations and potential prosecutions.