Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) school board members are seeking community support for a petition to back the district following Attorney General Todd Rokita’s lawsuit against IPS for noncompliance with updated immigration policies.
“We’re calling on families, educators, officials, and community members across Indiana to stand with us,” IPS School Board President Angelia Moore told the Recorder.
The board shared the petition at change.org which, at the time of this reporting, had more than one thousand signatures.
“We are deeply concerned that the recent lawsuit filed by the Indiana Attorney General against Indianapolis Public Schools undermines not only the district’s leadership and integrity, but also the collective trust between schools and the families they serve,” the board said in a statement.
AG Rokita’s complaint
Rokita’s lawsuit claims that “IPS has implemented and maintains several policies that restrict its own and its employees’ ability to cooperate and communicate with federal immigration authorities in at least three important ways.”
In his announcement on X, Rokita said that IPS policies limit ICE’s ability to keep schools safe from “criminal illegal aliens.”
The areas in dispute include requiring approval from the superintendent, gathering and sharing information with federal immigration authorities and requiring a judicial warrant for said authorities to access nonpublic school areas.
The lawsuit follows an incident at an IPS school in January during which immigration authorities arrived to pick up a student. According to Rokita’s complaint, IPS actions prevented ICE from reuniting a student, the son of a Honduran national, with his father on the day of his voluntary self-deportation.
IPS policies required a judicial order to release the child. ICE informed the AG’s office that an order should not have been required because they were asking for the son to be released to his father so they could leave for Honduras together.
Further, the son’s teacher connected him with an immigration attorney to advise him on how to proceed. Rokita’s complaint claims that due to IPS procedures and the teacher’s actions, the voluntary deportation order expired and the father was unable to leave as planned.
Rokita then sent a letter in February to the district stating that IPS policies “must be changed” because they maintained “unlawful limitations” on federal authorities. The letter warned legal action if IPS did not comply. The Office of the Attorney General filed its lawsuit agains IPS on Nov. 6. The America First Policy Institute will be serving as special counsel for this case.
In their statement, IPS board commissioners noted that they had only five business days to review and respond to the AG’s complaint, stating that “these important issues deserve thoughtful, deliberative weighing of important legal rights – not impulsive, superficial efforts for political gain.”
United for safety
IPS board members said they stand in solidarity with the district in its commitment to creating “safe, supportive and welcoming environments” for students.
“This fight is fundamentally about protecting our children,” said IPS school board commissioner Ashley Thomas. “Our youth are worthy of absolute safety, yet Attorney General Rokita chose to tap the already-strained financial resources of our district for an action that undermines that safety.”
Moore said the aim is for the district to comply, but she wants to be sure the law is being applied appropriately all while keeping the safety of the students in mind.
“If we don’t protect them, who will? Because they are in our care,” Moore said.
At IPS, and many other area schools, visitors must provide identification and have an approved purpose for their visit before accessing the school’s premises. Further, consent from the parent or legal guardian is required by many schools for student pickup.
Moore raised concerns that changes to safety protocols could negatively affect students throughout the state. Her background as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), advocating for youth involved with child services, has informed her of the need to ensure each student’s safety from unauthorized pickups while at school.
She referenced circumstances such as domestic disputes, trafficking and custody disagreements. Releasing a student to an unauthorized individual, or without the necessary documentation, could have serious consequences, Moore said.
“Any attempt to set a new, dangerous statewide precedent that sacrifices parental trust and due process for our children is one we must stand united against,” Thomas said.
In the call for unity, Thomas encourages people to sign the school board’s petition.
“We urge everyone — parents, staff, and community members across the State of Indiana — to stand with us now by signing our petition and spreading the word,” Thomas said.
Moore added, “When politics overshadow students, unity matters. Anyone in our state can sign on and show support — because our kids deserve nothing less.”
To sign the petition, visit change.org/p/standing-in-solidarity-with-ips-protect-all-kids.
Contact Editor-in-Chief Camike Jones at 317-762-7850.
Camike Jones is the Editor-in-Chief of the Indianapolis Recorder. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Jones has a lifelong commitment to advocacy and telling stories that represent the community.
