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  • PRESS RELEASE
    29, January 2025
    LatinoJustice and Allies Urge Hempstead Schools to Keep ICE Out 

LatinoJustice and Allies Urge Hempstead Schools to Keep ICE Out 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
 
January 29, 2025 
 
Press Contact: 
[email protected] 

LatinoJustice and Allies Urge Hempstead Schools to Keep ICE Out 
Letter to Hempstead Union Free School District Underlines Rights of Students to Schooling and Safety 

New York, NY— LatinoJustice PRLDEF, a civil rights and human rights organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of the rights of Latinos in the United States, sent a letter to the Hempstead Union Free School District (HUFSD) Board President Victor Pratt responding to recent reports that he said the district would “take necessary steps to comply” with federal measures to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at schools.  

The letter addresses the rights of all school-age children to receive a free public education regardless of their immigration status or the status of their parents. In addition, the letter addresses how allowing ICE access to schools may violate the 4th Amendment rights of the students and their families, as well as violate state laws on privacy for student data. 

“We call on the Hempstead School District to uphold its legal and ethical obligations by ensuring schools remain safe spaces free from unnecessary fear or harm”, said Lourdes M. Rosado, President and General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF. “Allowing ICE into our schools or working with this federal agency jeopardize the safety, rights, and well-being of the district’s student body, which is predominantly Latino and Black, with many economically disadvantaged or English language learners.”  

Almost all the students in HUSFD identify as Latino (77%) or Black or African American (21%), and a majority of students in the district are economically disadvantaged (70%) and/or English language learners (45%). 

“We urge the Hempstead Union Free School District to reaffirm its commitment to protecting its students and comply with its legal obligations,” added Rosado. “We stand ready to advocate on behalf of the students and parents of Hempstead and will act decisively to ensure their rights are upheld, any actions to the contrary will prompt immediate legal action to protect students and families.” 

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About LatinoJustice 
LatinoJustice PRLDEF works to create a more just society by using and challenging the rule of law to secure transformative, equitable and accessible justice, by empowering our community and by fostering leadership through advocacy and education. For over 50 years, LatinoJustice PRLDEF has acted as an advocate against injustices throughout the country. To learn more about LatinoJustice, visit www.LatinoJustice.org