Materials and Resources from Feb 6 Webinar

“Rights of Immigrant Students in Pennsylvania Schools”

Thank you for registering for the February 6, 2025, webinar presentation from Education Law Center PA, ACLU-PA and HIAS-PA regarding the “Rights of Immigrant Students in Pennsylvania Schools.”

In response to numerous requests, we are providing the following resources and information:

• Recording of the February 6 presentation and slides for the presentation

• ELC-PA and ACLU-PA provided an open letter to all Pennsylvania public schools explaining the rights of immigrant students and schools’ legal obligations with respect to ICE enforcement actions, with recommended Welcoming Schools policy and protocol attached.  

The following additional information may be helpful to impacted families and communities:

• Know Your Rights collection from HIAS in multiple languages

• Family Preparedness Guide from Philadelphia Legal Assistance. It’s important to reference PA-specific family law. The guide includes a downloadable temporary custody form.

• ACLU We Have Rights videos in multiple languages describing ICE contacts at home, public, and if arrested

• NILC factsheet about ICE warrants and subpoenas (with examples)

• Non-Parent Caregiver Enrollment and Education Decisionmaker: In the event a parent is detained or deported, Pennsylvania law allows a non-parent with whom the child is living to enroll the student in school and act as the student’s education decision maker, even if the non-parent does not have legal guardianship of the child. While this form should not be submitted unless custodial parent(s) are unavailable, families should consider the option and their preferred designation in advance. More information and sample forms are available from ELC in English and Spanish. 

• The Immigration Court website where you can enter an “A number” and see the next court date, judge, status of the case etc. 

• The ICE website where you can enter an “A number” and find out where someone is detained. 

• Families and students can reference fact sheets from ELC about attendance and truancy, in English and Spanish.



• CLASP guide to creating safe spaces at early education /childcare centers

• NILC factsheet and advice for formerly protected spaces including Places of Worship, Hospitals, Courthouses and more

• NILC guide for employers: what to do if ICE comes to your workplace

• To report discrimination, you can connect with:

• ACLU intake
• ELC intake, or call 215-238-6970 (Philadelphia), 412-258-2120 (Pittsburgh), or via email.
• Or file a complaint directly with the PA Human Relations Commission (PHRC): How to File a Complaint to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission; PHRC webpage for filing a complaint.

Thanks again for attending!