DeKalb County School Board Restricts ICE Access to Students

The DeKalb County School Board unanimously approved a new policy on September 15, 2026, to protect students from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Titled LDAJ: Law Enforcement, the policy prohibits government agents from questioning students, removing them, or accessing non-public school areas without proper legal authority.

Under the new rules, agents must verify their identities with administrators. All judicial warrants or court orders must be inspected by the district's Office of Legal Affairs before action is taken, except in cases of immediate threats to health and safety. The policy explicitly states that administrative detainers do not qualify as judicial warrants.

The board adopted these measures following pressure from parents and the Safe Space to Learn Coalition. The move comes after a 2025 executive order by Donald Trump rescinded the sensitive locations policy, which previously limited enforcement actions in schools. Current educational guidance emphasizes that administrators may refuse entry to ICE agents unless they present a judicial warrant signed by a judge based on probable cause, as administrative warrants issued by immigration officers do not mandate entry into private areas of public property.