What CMS parents need to know about ICE and school safety in 2025

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — As we head into the 2025-2026 school year, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) is addressing how to handle potential encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with its school staff.

Here’s what parents and guardians need to know based on the latest CMS training held this July.

No matter a student’s immigration status, CMS said it is legally and morally committed to providing equal educational opportunities to all children. The district stated that it also has strict procedures to protect personal and academic records, both for students and staff.

What if ICE shows up at a CMS school this year?

Here’s how CMS said its staff are trained to respond:

• ICE agents may be in public areas like parking lots or lobbies, but they cannot access private areas of the school, like classrooms or offices, without a valid judicial warrant or subpoena
• If ICE shows up, staff are instructed to contact the CMS Office of General Counsel (OGC). The school will not act until OGC verifies the legitimacy of the documents agents provide
• Schools will only comply with judicial warrants, which are signed by a judge, CMS said. Administrative subpoenas or warrants do not require compliance, they said

In this summer’s training, CMS encouraged schools to clearly mark private areas and keep them secure. Officials said each school has a designated staff contact to handle law enforcement visits.

CMS said its staff are required to record and report details of any ICE visit, including who was there, what was said, and whether anyone was detained.

Should a student’s family be impacted, CMS said it will support that student through counseling, and possibly McKinney-Vento support, which helps students who lose housing.

What if ICE shows up at a CMS field trip or an off-campus event?

CMS said any ICE activity off school grounds, like during a field trip or at a community event, is not under their control. They said their staff are trained to “remain vigilant and follow safety protocols” wherever students are present.

What is the legal guidance and CMS’ policy?

CMS said this current approach aligns with Board Policy O-ELX and Regulation O-ELX/R, which guides how CMS works with law enforcement. The goal is to protect student rights, maintain safe learning environments, and comply with legal requirements, school officials said.

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