Supporting our Immigrant, Refugee, and Undocumented Students and Families

Regardless of local, regional or national circumstances, the NWESD is committed to providing the best environment and outcomes for students in our region.  It is our duty to lead, serve, and support our districts as they offer free, high-quality education to all their students.  As noted in State Superintendent Reykdal’s guidance and communication, “State and federal law prohibit public school districts from discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin. State law further prohibits discrimination on the basis of citizenship or immigration status.”

The NWESD remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where all students and families feel safe and valued, regardless of their immigration status. Our mission is to provide equitable access to education while upholding the rights and dignity of every individual in our schools.

As changes are implemented at a national level, we understand that many of our students and families throughout our region, as well as staff members, are facing a scary and unknown future. We wanted to offer some resources that may be of use to you.

OSPI issued the following guidance on Jan. 23, 2025: OSPI Guidance – Protections for Immigrant Students in Washington’s K-12 Public Schools.  Please be sure to see page 8 for information on Immigration Enforcement on School Campuses.

This page will be updated.

Resources

• NWESD Proclamation
• OSPI Guidance
• ACLU Washington (Multilingual)
• Northwest Immigrants Rights Project
  • Know Your Rights – Northwest Immigrants Rights Project (Multilingual)
• Legal Counsel for Youth and Children and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project are partnering to host trainings and answer questions about the Immigrant Safety Plan, a community resource to help parents plan for the care of their child(ren) (with or without status) in the event that a parent is unable to care for their child, particularly if the parent is detained or deported.
• Legal Counsel for Youth and Children Immigrant Youth and Family Resources
• Know Your Rights from the National Immigration Law Center
  • Conozca Sus Derechos
• Red Cards/Tarjetas Rojas from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center
• Know Your Rights with ICE from the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (English and Spanish)
• Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network hotline
• Online Detainee Locator System
• The League of Latin American Citizens has an online training to help you Know Your Rights.