Nevada lawmakers are trying to protect students from ICE entering schools

A bill in the Nevada Legislature would make it so US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers would not be allowed to enter public schools or access students’ records without a warrant signed by a judge. 

If AB217 passes, Nevada school districts and their employees would be banned from sharing any information about a student’s family with ICE or any law enforcement officers who are enforcing immigration laws, unless there’s a court order or warrant. Violating it would be a misdemeanor. 

The bill, introduced by Las Vegas Democratic Assemblymember Cecelia González, comes after the Trump administration rescinded the policy against arrests in “sensitive locations” last month, allowing federal immigration agencies to make arrests at schools, churches, and hospitals. AB217 is still in the early stages of the legislative process: It has yet to be heard in the education committees or be voted on by state lawmakers. If both chambers ultimately pass the bill and it’s signed by the governor, AB217 would go into effect on July 1.

AB217 would also make it a misdemeanor for Clark County School District school police officers or employees to use tear gas or tasers on students at school or at school events, unless it’s “necessary and justified.” This part of the bill would only apply to counties with a population of 700,000 or more; only Clark County meets that threshold right now. 

The bill outlines that if school police use such force, the officer must submit a report to the School Board explaining the reasoning and how they tried to avoid it beforehand. After review of the report and the incident investigation, the School Board can decide if the use of force was justified. Otherwise the officer could be charged with a misdemeanor.

READ MORE: Nevada joins multi-state federal lawsuit to block Trump order on birthright citizenship