Morath: Schools “Must not Impede” Federal Officials on Campuses

thumbnail image: Commissioner's Response to MALC. — Subscribers may click the image above to access the commissioner’s letter to MALC (pdf).

Education Commissioner Mike Morath has told a coalition of lawmakers that school districts “must not impede federal officials” when they are conducting immigration enforcement on campuses, the Austin American-Statesman reported (paywall/nonpaywall) on Saturday (Feb. 8).

Three Paragraphs

The Statesman further reported that Morath’s informal guidance came in a brief, three-paragraph letter to the Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC), a coalition of Democrat Texas House members.

Note: Morath was responding to a letter the caucus sent him late last month asking for “clear and detailed guidance” from the TEA on how local school districts and school personnel should respond to and prepare themselves for federal immigration enforcement actions in Texas.

In his response, Morath told the caucus that school districts must follow state and federal law.

Existing Statutes

He noted that existing statutes allow schools to verify the identities of campus visitors “including municipal, state, and federal law enforcement officials,” and said that visitors shouldn’t be allowed on a campus without a legitimate reason to be there.

Morath further advised school officials to seek advice from their administrators or legal counsel if they have questions.

One of the letter’s biggest takeaways came in this sentence: “As with any visit by a state law enforcement officer carrying out official duties, campus personnel must not impede federal officials,” the Statesman reported.

Criticized

MALC Chair Ramon Romero Jr., D-Fort Worth, criticized Morath’s letter as not going far enough to clarify which laws districts are expected to follow.

Note: Gov. Abbott ordered all state agencies on Jan. 29 to assist federal immigration officers to investigate, arrest, detain and deport illegal immigrants in the state.