New York City Schools Requesting Proof of Immigration Status Prior to Enrollment

Nearly three decades ago, in Plyler v. Doe, the United States Supreme Court ruled that immigration violations cannot be used as a basis to deny children equal access to a public school education. Despite this commendable holding, nearly one in five school districts in New York is requiring proof of immigration status as a a prerequisite to enrollment.

Fortunately, New York children have not yet been turned away for a lack of immigration paperwork, but the New York Civil Liberties Union warns that this policy will "inevitably discourage families from enrolling in school for fear that they would be reported to federal immigration authorities."

In response to investigatory calls from New York Times reporters, many of the school districts dropped the requirement for a visa or green card, and changed questions about citizenship to questions seeking verification of a child's birth date. However, many fear that the Education Department is not taking sufficiently forceful action against the newly imposed requirements.

Read the New York Times article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/23/nyregion/23immig.html

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