US States Tell Judge: Trump Not Fully Following Order Blocking Funding Freeze
A federal judge on Thursday said he stood ready to enforce an order he issued blocking U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration from freezing federal grants, loans and other financial assistance after Democratic-led states said billions of dollars in funding was still being tied up.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, during a virtual court hearing, said state agencies had a “rightful concern” that they were still not able to fully access money nearly a week after he issued his temporary restraining order.
Trump’s Federal Funding Freeze Was Blocked. But Confusion Among Schools Remains
The nation’s school districts on Tuesday were swept into a nationwide avalanche of confusion and panic surrounding a Trump administration order the night before that sought to indefinitely suspend hundreds of billions of dollars in federal grant funding.
School districts and education policy experts spent much of Tuesday struggling to determine which education-related funding streams would be frozen as a result of the order, and wondering what the future held for the funds long-term.
New York State Education Department and NYS Attorney General on Immigration Action
Recent immigration-related actions by federal officials have created fear and confusion across the country. New York State residents, whom both of our agencies and the New York State Board of Regents have pledged to serve, have communicated directly with our agencies about the anxiety and questions these actions raised. The New York State Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) and the New York State Education Department (“SED”) write today to reaffirm to students, schools, families, and communities across the State of New York that our schools will remain safe havens where all students can learn.
New York City Public Schools Memo on ICE and Other Non-local Law Enforcement
This document provides guidance on the general procedures to follow if law enforcement officials, including officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”)
(collectively, “non-local law enforcement officers”), request access to NYCPS school facilities, students, or student records. This guidance does not apply to actions by the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), whose actions
in schools, as set forth below, are governed by other documents and policies.
Denver (CO) Public Schools Memo Guidance for Education Leaders
Denver Public Schools (DPS) remains fully committed to providing safe learning environments for students and staff regardless of immigration status, national origin, race or religion. Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our top priority and our most important responsibility as a district. I am aware that many of you are receiving questions and concerns from staff and families about the potential presence of government officials, including officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), on our school campuses. It is important that all leaders and their staff are aware of the current policies and procedures to follow should a government official arrive at your building and/or request records for information.
Michigan Department of Education Memo on ICE and Public Schools
All children, regardless of citizenship and immigration status, have the right to equal access to a free public education. The United States Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe (457 U.S. 202 (1982)), a 2014 U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Department of Justice’s Dear Colleague letter, U.S. Department of Education June 2023 guidance, and most recently a January 8, 2025 Dear Colleague letter from U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona confirm the right to equal access for all children to a free public education regardless of immigration status.
Reminder of Obligation to Protect Immigrant Families’ Rights to Access Public Education (California)
All children in the United States, regardless of immigration or citizenship status, have a right to a free and appropriate public education.
In response to requests for information and support from local educational agencies (LEAs), the California Department of Education (CDE) is sharing resources to preserve access to education for students from immigrant families during times of increased fear of immigration enforcement.
According to data gathered by the Urban Institute, approximately half of California’s students are members of immigrant families, in which one or more parents are immigrants. One in five children in California are members of mixed-status families, in which one or more parents are undocumented. Ninety-three percent of those students are United States citizens.
