At least 23 states considered legislative proposals governing the interaction between federal immigration officers and K-12 public schools in 2026, according to an analysis by NPR. The surge in state-level activity follows the Trump administration's decision to rescind a federal policy that previously protected sensitive locations, including schools, from immigration enforcement operations. While the Department of Homeland Security stated that ICE does not raid or target schools, reports from K-12 Dive indicated several incidents of ICE agents on school grounds during the last academic year.
The legislative landscape remains fragmented, with no uniform national standard for how school districts should respond to immigration enforcement. In border communities like Laredo, Texas, school leaders note that the presence of federal agents is a normalized part of daily life, whereas in other regions, such encounters can create significant uncertainty. Andrea Garza, a school leader in the United Independent School District, noted that her district serves a community that is 94% Hispanic and relies on the federal government as a major employer.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative lawmakers have generally advocated for policies that ensure cooperation with federal immigration enforcement or increase transparency regarding student enrollment. Mississippi passed a law requiring government entities, including school districts, to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Tennessee Representative Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) argued in a March hearing that legislators need data to make informed decisions. "We simply do not know what the attendance is in our school systems across the state, regarding children who are here illegally," Zachary said while supporting a measure that would have required schools to report undocumented students.
The Trump administration framed its rescission of the sensitive locations policy as a measure to ensure that law enforcement could operate without unnecessary restrictions. A Department of Homeland Security statement at the time asserted that "criminals will no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrest," adding that the administration "will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement." Additionally, some states considered proposals to charge tuition for non-citizen students, a move that would challenge the Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe, though these efforts faced significant hurdles.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive lawmakers and education advocates have largely pushed for legislation that restricts federal immigration officers' access to school campuses. Of the 40 proposals reviewed by NPR, 35 sought to limit access, with several specifying requirements for warrants or subpoenas before officers could enter school property. Tennessee Representative Gabby Salinas (D-Memphis), who sponsored a bill prohibiting schools from being used as staging areas for immigration enforcement, argued that a safe learning environment is essential. "Everybody deserves to have a great learning environment, and it's hard to teach when you are worried that one of your students is going to be taken," Salinas said.
Thomas Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, stated that the elimination of the federal sensitive locations policy drove states to establish their own protections, describing the effort as "belts and suspenders." School administrators in states like Minnesota, where no pre-existing state law governed these interactions, expressed a desire for clear expectations to keep schools safe. Principal Kenny Newby of Justice Alan Page Elementary School in Maplewood, Minn., noted that his district's policy requires staff to verify paperwork and avoid direct contact between agents and students, but he stressed that state-level clarity would provide better support for school staff.
What the Numbers Show
NPR’s analysis identified 40 legislative proposals across 23 states related to ICE and schools in 2026. Only 11 of these proposals became laws by the start of the school year. The breakdown of the proposals is as follows:
- 35 proposals sought to limit federal officers' access to K-12 campuses and students.
- 1 proposal, in Mississippi, sought to ensure schools cooperate with ICE.
- The remaining proposals did not explicitly limit or increase access.
States that considered restricting ICE access include Minnesota, Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, and Nebraska. Minnesota lawmakers considered at least five different proposals, ranging from stricter warrant requirements to mandating school procedures for law enforcement requests, but none made it to a final vote. At least eight states already had laws governing immigration enforcement and K-12 schools at the start of 2026, including Connecticut, Maryland, and Oregon, which considered additional legislation this year.
The Bottom Line
The lack of consistent state laws leaves school administrators navigating a patchwork of district-specific policies when interacting with federal immigration agents. In the absence of clear state mandates, principals like Rob Reetz of Mounds View High School in Arden Hills, Minn., face logistical challenges, such as determining which district's protocols apply during off-campus events. While most legislative efforts in 2026 aimed to restrict ICE access, the low passage rate suggests significant political friction. Educators and legal advocates continue to call for standardized procedures to balance student safety with federal enforcement mandates, while proponents of stricter enforcement argue that data transparency and cooperation are necessary for effective governance.