Applicability of Policies to Immigration Enforcement

• Walla Walla Public Schools adheres to all requirements of federal and state law.
• The provisions of this policy shall apply to Walla Walla Public Schools and all school facilities, which include, but are not limited to, adjacent sidewalks, parking areas, sports facilities, playgrounds and entrances and exits from said building spaces.
• Walla Walla Public Schools policies prohibiting participation or aid in immigration enforcement shall apply for enforcement activity against students and their families, staff and volunteers.
• Walla Walla Public Schools personnel shall presume that activities by federal immigration authorities, including surveillance, constitute immigration enforcement.

Access to Schools

• Walla Walla Public Schools has a responsibility to ensure that all students who reside within their boundaries can safely access a free public K-12 education.
• Walla Walla Public Schools does not exclude students from receiving an education or unlawfully discriminate against anyone because of their race, color, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, immigration or citizenship status, sex, creed, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, sexual orientation, or on any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.

Immigration Enforcement on School Campus

1. Walla Walla Public Schools does not grant permission for any person engaging in or intending to engage in immigration enforcement, including: surveillance, access to nonpublic areas of Walla Walla Public Schools facilities, property, equipment, databases or other areas on school grounds or their immediate vicinity.
2. District staff shall direct anyone engaging in, or intending to engage in, immigration enforcement, including federal immigration authorities with official business, to the Superintendent or their authorized designee prior to permitting entrance to school grounds. 
3. If anyone attempts to engage in immigration enforcement on or near school grounds, including requesting access to a student, employee, or school property:

a.    District staff shall immediately alert and direct the person to the Superintendent or authorized designee, who shall: verify and record the person’s credentials (at least, name, agency, and badge number), record the names of all persons they intend to contact, collect the nature of the person’s business at the school, request a copy of the court order or judicial warrant, log the date and time, and forward the request to legal counsel for review.
b.    District staff shall request that any person desiring to communicate with a student regarding immigration enforcement, enter school grounds, or conduct an arrest first produce a valid court order or judicial warrant.
c.    The Superintendent, authorized designee, and/or legal counsel shall review the court order or judicial warrant for signature by a judge and validity. For Walla Walla Public Schools to consider it valid, any court order or judicial warrant must state the purpose of the enforcement activity, identify the specific search location, name the specific person to whom access must be granted, include a current date and be signed by a judge.
d.    The Superintendent, authorized designee and/or legal counsel shall review written authority signed by an appropriate level director of an officer’s agency that permits them to enter school district property, for a specific purpose. If no written authority exists, the Superintendent, authorized designee and/or legal counsel shall contact the appropriate level director for the officer’s agency to confirm permission has been granted to enter school district property for the specific purpose identified.
e.    Upon receipt and examination of the required information, the Superintendent, authorized designee and/or legal counsel will determine whether the District will allow access to contact or question the identified individual.
f.    The Superintendent, authorized designee and/or legal counsel shall make a reasonable effort, to the extent allowed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), to notify the parent/guardian of any immigration enforcement concerning their student, including contact or interview.
g.    The Superintendent, authorized designee and/or legal counsel shall request a District representative be present during any interview. 
h.    The District shall not permit access to information, records or areas beyond that specified in the court order, judicial warrant or other legal requirement.

Responding to Requests for Information:

1. District staff shall not share, provide or disclose personal information about any person for immigration enforcement purposes without a court order or judicial warrant requiring the information’s disclosure and approval by the Superintendent or authorized designee. Requests by federal immigration authorities shall be presumed to be for immigration enforcement purposes.
2. District staff shall immediately report receipt of any information request relating to immigration enforcement to the Superintendent or their authorized designee, who shall document the request and refer the request to legal counsel. The Superintendent, authorized designee and/or legal counsel shall review the request to ensure compliance with FERPA, Keep Washington Working Act (KWW), the Public Records Act (PRA), and other relevant federal and state laws. This review shall be conducted expeditiously, but before any production of information is granted to the requesting party.  
3. Walla Walla Public Schools shall, to the extent allowed by FERPA, notify an affected student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s) immediately of any request for information relating to immigration enforcement unless advised otherwise by legal counsel.

Use of School Resources

1. District resources shall not be used for immigration enforcement.

Legal Reference:
RCW 43.10.310 – Immigration enforcement model policies 

Adopted:  December 17, 2024
Revised:  February 18, 2025