Know Your Rights | Immigration Resources for Families & Community
EMCSD has always been a safe space for our students to learn, play, and succeed. The recent federal executive orders do not change our commitment to our students & community. Students have a constitutional right to a public education, regardless of their or their family's immigration status. Below are federal and state laws that protect students' right to education and privacy.
U.S. Supreme Court: Per Plyler v. Doe, 1982., all children have a right to a free public education, regardless of immigration status.
California Education Code [EC] 220, 234, et seq.: Every student in California has the right to attend public school in the state free from discrimination, harassment, violence, intimidation, and bullying.
California’s Assembly Bill 699: Schools are not to collect information about families’ immigration status unless required by law.
Safe Haven Schools Act - AB 49:Restricts immigration enforcement from entering a nonpublic area of a school site without a valid judicial warrant, judicial subpoena, or court order.
- Defines “schoolsite” broadly to include campus, school-sponsored activities, and transportation.
- Requires schools to follow parental instructions and use emergency contacts when a parent/guardian is unavailable. Ensuring updated emergency contacts is critical. Please contact your school office if you need to update your emergency information.
Sending Alerts to Families in Education (SAFE) Act: Requires a school's comprehensive safety plan to include procedures for notifying parents/guardians & staff when the presence of immigration enforcement on a school site is confirmed. The deadline to update is March 2026. Notification timing is determined by the district, with the safety of students and staff serving as the guiding consideration.
Below are different resources you can reference to better understand your rights, including information about legal services and community organizations you can access.
If ICE Agents come to your Home or Resident - you have the right to:
- DO NOT to open your door unless the immigration agent knocking has a warrant signed by a judge or magistrate with your name on it
- REMAIN SILENT and not answer any questions from immigration agents
- DO NOT SIGN ANY PAPERS without first talking with an attorney
- TALK TO AN ATTORNEY at your own expense
Know What These Documents Look Like!
KYR Resource List For Affiliates
Know Your Rights - Cards to Keep
Below, you can access "Know Your Rights" cards that have simple instructions and talking points for immigration enforcement.
Know Your Rights Cards
Click here to access 15 different languages of "Know Your Rights" cards courtesy of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center