Immigrant Rights & Education
Immigrant students and families deserve safe and welcoming schools that are free from discrimination, racial profiling, and fear of deportation. State lawmakers continue to introduce policies that target immigrant communities and restrict access to inclusive education. Below are the laws and bills most likely to impact immigrant students in North Carolina schools for the 2025-26 school year.
Bills that became law in 2025:
HB 318: Cooperation with ICE Expansion
Expands on the 2024 law (HB 10) that forces sheriffs to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). HB 318:
Expands the list of charged offenses requiring law enforcement to try to determine a person’s citizenship status.
Delays the start time for the required 48-hour ICE detainer hold.
Requires jail administrators to notify ICE before releasing someone held on a detainer.
Families may be more reluctant to engage with school events or local services if they fear contact with law enforcement. Students with undocumented parents or guardians may experience heightened stress and absenteeism.
Bills that we’re watching:
SB153: Border Protection Act (Anti-Immigrant)
Senate Bill 153 includes multiple provisions targeting immigrant communities in North Carolina. These provisions include:
Requiring state law enforcement agencies to enter into a 287(g) agreement with ICE. This agreement would require these departments to try and determine whether an individual they are interacting with is a U.S. citizen or has legal status. If the individual's status cannot be determined, ICE must be contacted. In the case that the person is undocumented, the agencies must cooperate with requests from ICE.
Forcing state agencies to take additional and unnecessary steps to verify that undocumented immigrants are not benefitting from public services beyond what is required under federal law.
Waiving certain aspects of governmental immunity for local governments that fail to comply with anti-sanctuary ordinances.
Prohibiting UNC institutions from adopting any type of sanctuary policies or procedures and from preventing law enforcement officials from gathering information on the citizenship status of an individual and sharing that information with federal law enforcement agencies.
If passed, this would increase law enforcement contact with immigrant families and undermine trust in public institutions, including school systems.
HB 171: (Prohibition on DEI)
This bill would prohibit state and local government from workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
This could limit teacher and staff training programs that help educators support immigrant, multilingual, and culturally diverse students.
Know Your Rights - Resources
For Students, Families, and Schools
Guidance for Schools – Explains protections for immigrant students under FERPA and constitutional law, how to handle ICE presence, safeguard student information, and implement protective policies. PDF
Checklist for ICE Arrival – Step-by-step guide for handling ICE interactions before, during, and after an encounter. PDF
Immigrant Rights resource page
For more information, including resources for higher education institutions and community-specific guidance, visit our full resource page.