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Summit joins other Colorado school districts in reaffirming immigrant protection policies as the Trump administration makes major changes

A sign is pictured at the Summit School District campus in Frisco on Sunday, May 19, 2024. District officials discussed policies pertinent to protections for students who are immigrants at Jan. 13 and 16 meetings before the Trump administration rolled back protections on Jan. 21.
Robert Tann/Summit Daily News

After President Donald Trump’s victory in the November 2024 election, school districts across Colorado began reviewing protections for immigrant students since Trump has called for mass deportations while on the campaign trail. Summit School District was no exception.

Following months of discussions, the Summit School District Board of Education reaffirmed a policy aimed at protecting immigrant students on school grounds and made additions to it at a Jan. 16 meeting, just days before the Trump administration made changes to guidance issued to immigrant officials.

On Jan. 21, the Trump administration rescinded a Biden administration policy designating schools as  “protected” or “sensitive” locations, which restricted actions immigrant officials could take on school premises. It required immigration enforcement only take place in these areas when there is immediate danger to others. 



The Board of Education’s revised policy provides guidance for staff regarding how to handle interactions with immigration officials on school property and at school-sponsored events while also revamping guidelines for communications to families.

“We believe in the physical, social and emotional security of our students,” Director of Communications Kerstin Anderson said. She said the district is aiming to uphold the 1982 Plyer vs. Doe Supreme Court decision that provides equal access to education regardless of a student’s immigration status. 



Denver Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools are among the larger Colorado school districts reaffirming their policies related to protections for immigrants.

In its announcement of the reversal of the Biden administration’s policy, the Department of Homeland Security stated the change would “empower law enforcement to protect Americans.” Protections were also rolled back on other “sensitive” locations, including hospitals and churches. 

“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the statement from the Department of Homeland Security stated. 

The Frisco-based immigrant nonprofit Mountain Dreamers, Summit School District staffers and community members made a plea to the district to support immigrants by bolstering a policy the district has that limits immigrant officials’ ability to be on district campuses in November.

Many referenced the Roaring Fork School Board’s decision to solidify its own policy back in May, just over a year after an incident where border patrol agents were invited to present at a Glenwood Springs High School career expo, which officials said violated a community trust policy put in place in 2011.

Superintendent Tony Byrd voiced approval at the time, and he followed through by leading an effort to alter the policy and increase communications between the district and families. 

Byrd told the board at a Jan. 13 special meeting the updates being presented to them were informed by a subcommittee the district created. He added he’s been communicating with neighboring districts like those in Lake and Eagle counties to ensure there’s some uniformity between policies. 

In early December, the district also sent communications to families highlighting the current rights immigrants have in Colorado based off a sample letter Colorado Department of Education Commissioner Susana Cordova wrote for districts to use as a guide. 

“(We’re working on) building trust and working collaboratively with families, community partners and law enforcement to share resources to ensure that kids are feeling safe and supported and valued coming to our schools,” Byrd said while explaining the district’s actions to the board at the Jan. 13 meeting.

The district also pushed families to update contact information on the database it uses to communicate, PowerSchool. The district and Mountain Dreamers both updated their websites to inform immigrants of their rights.

Anderson said, as of Jan. 22, the district hasn’t “seen any action at schools or indication that schools would be targeted.” More information on the district’s policy can be found at TinyURL.com/mu4p6hcx.


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