A photo of an ICE agent searching through a box of documents.
Alice Independent School District sent out a notice today to all staff with an official statement about the changing nature of our immigration laws and norms, and issued guidance about potential bus searches during extra-curricular activities.
“The safety, mental well-being, and education of our students has always and will remain a top priority for our administrators, teachers, and support staff,” Alice ISD Superintendent Dr. Anysia Trevino said in the statement. “We want to reassure you that Alice ISD is committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students,” it continues.
Alice ISD is responding to the latest changes to our immigration laws and procedures. Before President Trump’s second term, schools were considered sensitive areas that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement or ICE would avoid when trying to make an arrest or inquire about someone’s immigration status. Now, schools are no longer offered these special protections.
Still, Alice ISD says they will comply with all federal and state laws and abide by district policy. This means that if ICE arrived at an Alice ISD campus, they would only be allowed inside after following the established procedures— meaning ICE would need a judicial warrant for a specific student, not their standard general administrative “warrant”.
“The policy discussions that are occurring do not change our focus to educate each and every child in accordance with current law and District policy.”
— Alice ISD Superintendent Dr. Trevino
The school also issued another statement regarding extracurricular activities and our changing immigration policies.
Alice ISD is warning families about the potential for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents entering a school bus and inquiring with students about their citizenship status. Although this process is legal, school buses were typically exempt from such searches.
In a second statement they issued today, Dr. Trevino wrote, “we have received information that U.S. Border Patrol agents may be boarding school buses at highway checkpoints in and out of the Valley to question students about their citizenship status.” The statement also pleaded with families directly, “We strongly encourage families to be aware of the potential implications of these encounters. If a student is found to be without proper documentation, they may be removed from the bus, detained, and possibly deported under current immigration policies.”
Alice ISD is considering further policy adjustments as a result of these changing laws. In their statement about extracurricular travel, Dr. Trevino says they are considering designating a chaperone vehicle to follow buses with a school administrator present, in the event a student is detained.
The Gazette remains committed to keeping the community informed about these developing situations.
UPDATE 02/06/2025: Alice ISD has released another statement clarifying that their original statement was issued out of an abundance of caution, rather than a response to any specific event.
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