Community Gathers to Address ICE Presence in Hawaii Schools
Hawaii— On Tuesday evening, advocates and educators came together in a virtual meeting aimed at equipping Hawaii families and public school staff with knowledge on how to respond to potential visits from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at schools. This event, organized by the ACLU of Hawaii, Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA), and Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, was prompted by recent incidents that heightened anxiety among educators and families.
Earlier this month, a raid involving armed ICE agents at a Kahului home deeply unsettled a group of international public school teachers from the Philippines working under the J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program. Although no arrests were made, the agents’ presence, guns drawn, caused considerable distress among those present, including young children.
Nathan Lee from the ACLU emphasized that ICE generally lacks jurisdiction in schools and shared essential guidance for educators. If ICE arrives, he advised staff to remain calm and direct agents to trained administrators, stressing that any entry requires a judicial warrant—something that must be signed by a judge and specify an individual’s name or address.
Participants were reminded of their constitutional rights, including the right to remain silent and protections against unlawful searches. Liza Ryan Gill from HCIR highlighted the need for documentation during such enforcement actions and encouraged educators to be aware of privacy laws regarding student information.
HSTA President Osa Tui Jr. called for mandatory training for school administrators on immigration policies and clearer protocols to safeguard staff and students. The meeting was the first of multiple “Know Your Rights” workshops planned for the summer, with resources available in several languages to support the community’s understanding of their rights.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
