2026-2027 Protect Act Procedures

Haverhill Public Schools

 

PROTECT Act Procedures: Interactions with Civil Law Enforcement

 

Haverhill Public Schools is committed to maintaining schools that are safe, welcoming, and accessible to every student. A student's immigration or citizenship status does not affect their right to attend Haverhill Public Schools.

 

Under the Massachusetts PROTECT Act, civil arrests for civil law enforcement purposes, including federal immigration enforcement, are not permitted on school grounds during school hours, student arrival or dismissal, before- or after-school programming, or school-sponsored events without a Judicial Warrant or Judicial Order, except as otherwise required by state or federal law.

These procedures apply whenever an individual identifies themselves as a federal immigration officer or other civil law enforcement agent:

 

• Arrives at a Haverhill Public School or District facility;
• Requests entry to a non-public area of a school;
• Requests access to a student or employee;
• Requests student, employee, or other District records or information; or
• Seeks to conduct civil enforcement activity on school grounds. 

 

The Most Important Rule for Staff

 

Do not provide access, information, records, or a student or employee to the agent.

Staff should remain calm and respectful and immediately contact the building principal/designee.

Do not attempt to determine on your own whether a warrant, order, subpoena, or other document is legally sufficient.

 

The District will contact legal counsel and determine the appropriate response.

 

Quick Reference: What Do I Do?

 

An immigration/civil enforcement agent is at the door.
→ Keep the agent in the reception/public area.
→ Contact the Principal/designee immediately.

 

The agent wants to enter the school.
→ Do not grant access.
→ Contact the Principal/designee and Central Office.

 

The agent wants to speak with a student.
→ Do not bring the student to the agent.
→ Contact the Principal/designee immediately.

 

The agent asks whether someone is in school today.
→ Do not confirm or deny.
→ Refer the request to the Principal/designee.

 

The agent asks for records or information.
→ Do not provide them.
→ Refer the request to the Principal/designee.

 

The agent shows me a warrant or court document.
→ Take a copy if offered.
→ Do not interpret it or act on it.
→ Immediately give it to the Principal/designee for Central Office/legal review.

 

The agent insists I must cooperate immediately.
→ Remain professional.
→ Explain that you are required to contact your administrator.
→ Contact the Principal/designee immediately.

 

There appears to be an immediate physical safety emergency.
→ Follow established HPS emergency procedures and directions from school/District administration.

 

Actions Steps:

 

1. If a Civil Law Enforcement Agent Arrives at the school front office/security staff should:

 

• Remain calm and professional.
• Ask the agent for:
  • Name;
  • Agency;
  • Identification/credentials; and
  • Purpose of the visit.
• Do not allow the agent beyond the public/reception area.
• Immediately contact the Principal/Building Administrator or designee.
• The Principal/designee will immediately contact the District Central Office 
• If the agent presents a warrant, subpoena, court order, or other document, ask for a copy.
• Do not consent to entry, a search, an interview, access to a student or employee, or release of records while the document is being reviewed.
• The District's designated administrator will contact District legal counsel for review and direction.

 

2. What Staff Should Say:

 

If approached directly by an agent, staff may say:

 

"I am not authorized to provide access or information. I will contact my administrator, who will assist you."

Do not provide:

 

• Student schedules;
• Addresses or telephone numbers;
• Parent/guardian information;
• Emergency contacts;
• Attendance information;
• Transportation information;
• Class locations;
• Employee schedules or locations;
• Student records;
• Employee records; or
• Any other personally identifiable information.

 

Staff should contact the Principal/designee immediately. Do not argue, obstruct, physically interfere, or make representations about what the law does or does not permit. Refer the request immediately to the Principal/designee and Central Office. A verbal request from an agent does not authorize an individual staff member to release information

 

3. If an Agent Requests Access to a Student

 

Do not bring the student to the agent. Immediately contact the Principal/designee and Central Office.

 

The School Admin, in concert with the District, will:

 

Determine the nature and legal authority for the request;

Contact District legal counsel as appropriate;

Determine if the agent has a valid Judicial Warrant, Judicial Order, or other legal authority;

Notify the student's parent/guardian, as appropriate and permitted by law; and

If the student is 18 or older or emancipated, notify the student directly as required.

 

HPS policy requires parent/guardian notification—or notification directly to an adult or emancipated student—when civil law enforcement requests access to a student or their information.

 

Staff should not remove a student from class simply because an agent has requested to see the student.

 

4 . Warrants, Court Orders, Subpoenas, or Other Documents

 

If an agent presents a document: Accept a copy. Do not attempt to interpret it.

Immediately provide it to the Principal/designee, who will forward it to Central Office.

 

Central Office will obtain legal review when appropriate and provide direction to the school.

Staff should understand that there is an important distinction between different types of legal documents. School personnel are not expected to make that legal determination.

 

5. If Civil Law Enforcement Is Confirmed on or Near School Grounds

 

The Principal/designee should immediately notify Central Office.

 

Central Office, in consultation with the school and other appropriate personnel, will determine whether additional precautionary measures are necessary.

 

Depending upon the circumstances, those measures may include:

• Limiting entry and exit from the building;
• Adjusting arrival or dismissal procedures;
• Keeping students inside;
• Implementing appropriate portions of the school's emergency procedures;
• Communicating with transportation staff;
• Coordinating with District administration and, if appropriate, public safety officials;
• Providing timely communication to staff and families.

 

Staff should not independently initiate or communicate an emergency response unless there is an immediate safety emergency or they are directed to do so through established HPS emergency procedures.

 

HPS PROTECT Act procedures are intended to operate in alignment with the District's Emergency Operations Plans, Medical and Behavioral Health Emergency Response Plans, and School Resource Officer MOU.

 

6. Communication With Students and Families

 

If civil law enforcement activity is confirmed on school grounds, the Central Office will coordinate District communication.

 

Individual employees should not send independent messages, post information on social media, or speculate about the identity or immigration status of any student, family, or employee.

 

The District will determine what information should be communicated to:

 

• Parents and guardians;
• Teachers;
• Administrators;
• Other school personnel, and
• The broader school community, when appropriate.

 

The HPS policy specifically requires procedures for these notifications following confirmation of the presence of civil law enforcement agents on school grounds.

 

7. Document the Interaction

 

The Principal/designee must document any interaction with civil law enforcement.

Documentation should include, to the extent known:

 

• Date and time;
• School/location;
• Agent's name;
• Agency;
• Badge/identification information;
• Reason given for the visit or request;
• Documents presented;
• Information or access requested;
• Names of HPS staff involved;
• Actions taken by the school;
• Central Office personnel contacted;
• Whether legal counsel was contacted;
• Any parent/guardian notification, and
• Time the interaction concluded.

 

Copies of documents presented by the agent should be retained with the District's documentation.

The HPS policy expressly requires documentation of interactions with civil law enforcement occurring on school grounds.

 

8. Emergency Contacts and Alternative Caregivers

 

Schools should regularly remind families to:

 

• Maintain current emergency contact information;
• Identify more than one emergency contact whenever possible; and
• Identify an alternative caregiver who may pick up or care for a child if the parent/guardian is unexpectedly unavailable.

 

Schools should follow normal District procedures for verifying the identity and authorization of individuals picking up students.

 

The PROTECT Act policy specifically requires procedures for updating emergency contacts, allowing more than one person to be listed, and establishing alternative caregiver plans.

 

9. What Staff Should NOT Do

 

• Grant an agent access to non-public areas of the school without authorization;
• Bring a student or employee to an agent;
• Release records or information;
• Confirm whether a particular student or employee is present;
• Interpret a warrant, subpoena, or court order;
• Ask students or families about their immigration status in response to an enforcement concern;
• Physically interfere with or obstruct an officer;
• Argue with an officer;
• Independently contact the media;
• Post information about an incident on social media; or
• Send independent communications to families about suspected enforcement activity.

 

Your responsibility is to refer the matter immediately to the designated administrator—not to make a legal determination.