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Letter from Interim Superintendent Re: Immigration Enforcement

Posted Date: 2/03/25 (2:24 PM)

February 3, 2025

Dear Parents/Guardians and Community Members,                                          

The Center Moriches School District Board of Education and District Administration are deeply committed to ensuring that our schools remain a safe and secure haven for all our students, regardless of their immigration status. We realize the new administration’s changes in federal immigration policies, including the potential for immigration enforcement in our schools, have understandably caused great concern within our Center Moriches community.

As educators entrusted with the safety of your children while in our classrooms and on our school grounds, we fully accept that our foremost responsibility is to create a secure and supportive environment where every child can learn, grow, and thrive without fear. Our schools are not just centers for education; they should be trusted spaces where our students and their families feel protected, respected, and valued. We believe that any action that disrupts or interferes in any way with this sanctity undermines our educational mission and promise to our students, their families, and our community.

It is important to note that New York State law and federal protections guarantee the right to a free public education for all children, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. These laws reaffirm that our schools must serve as places of inclusion and safety. Furthermore, New York State guidance has reiterated that immigration enforcement actions cannot occur on school grounds without proper legal documentation. We will adhere to this guidance in the strictest sense, calling upon our legal counsel to affirm the validity of any supposed legal documentation brought to the District by any federal agency before we commit to compliance.

To address the concerns raised by the new White House executive orders, the Center Moriches School District is committed to adhering to our policies to protect the privacy of student information. Under no circumstances will personally identifiable student information be disclosed without proper legal justification, and only then with the approval of our District's legal counsel. We are committed to remaining steadfast and vigilant in upholding these protections. 

We are also cooperating with our State leaders to ensure that our District policies and procedures align with best practices for safeguarding our immigrant students.

Above all, the safety and security of our students will always remain our top priority. Our commitment to advocating for every student’s right to an education free from harassment and fear is unwavering. 

Sincerely,


Dr. Ricardo Soto


Interim Superintendent of Schools

Center Moriches School District