In response to Oregon’s new immigration‑enforcement notification law, the Eugene School District 4J, Springfield Public Schools and Bethel School District have each adopted policies that require immediate alerts to families and staff when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are on school grounds.
State law drives local action
House Bill 4079, passed by the Oregon Legislature in March, gave school districts and public higher‑education institutions until Sept. 30 to establish protocols for interacting with immigration‑enforcement authorities. The three districts finalized their policies in September.
How the notification process works
When a staff member spots immigration officers, an administrator or office coordinator contacts the district office. A district official then verifies the officers’ identities, documents the encounter and, if a valid judicial warrant exists, determines what information must be shared.
After verification, the district sends an email or ParentSquare alert to guardians, staff and any opted‑in community service providers. The notice includes the officers’ location on campus and whether school operations were affected. Notification is required to be sent “as expediently as possible.”
Each district sets its own age threshold for notifying students directly: Bethel informs students in grade 9 and up, 4J notifies those in grade 6 and up, and Springfield reaches out to students in grade 7 and up.
Limits on information sharing
Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), only designated district administrators may release student or staff information, and only with a warrant, subpoena or court order signed by a judge. Front‑office staff, principals and other employees cannot provide personal data, confirm a person’s presence, grant access to non‑public areas, sign documents or consent to custody.
Bethel’s assistant superintendent noted that if immigration officers approach bus drivers, drivers are instructed to close the bus doors and contact the district office. If someone claims to be an immigration officer but cannot prove it, the school follows standard public‑safety procedures, including contacting the district office, youth‑services officer or 911.
Local officials emphasize safety and compliance
“This is not simply about adopting language to meet a statutory requirement; it is about making sure that if an immigration‑enforcement situation occurs, our employees know exactly what to do, who to contact, and who has the authority to make decisions,” said Carmen Xiomara Urbina, chief of staff for District 4J, at a Sept. 2 board meeting.
Bethel superintendent Kraig Sproles added that reports of suspicious vehicles—such as black SUVs without plates or with out‑of‑state plates—are common, but the district is not tasked with tracking them. He clarified that while immigration officers have taken individuals into custody near a Bethel school, the arrests did not occur on school property.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
