Two federal immigration agents who showed up at a New York City public school to ask about a fourth-grade student were turned away by school officials Thursday, according to a report.
The immigration agents showed up at P.S. 58 elementary school in Maspeth, Queens, without a warrant as part of an “administrative inquiry,” CBS New York reported.
“While I cannot discuss the details of the case, I can confirm that two USCIS officials visited an elementary school in Maspeth, Queens, as part of an administrative inquiry pertaining to an immigration benefit request,” a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson told CBS New York.
“I must emphasize that the purpose of the visit was to verify certain facts about the student’s enrollment in relation to a request for an immigration benefit. At no time did the officers ask to see or speak with the student, who was not the subject of the administrative inquiry,” the spokesperson added.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in March that ICE agents will be barred from entering New York City public schools, even though agency officials say they do not pursue illegal aliens in schools.
“We will not allow ICE agents to threaten that protection, disrupt classes or take any action that would be detrimental to our students,” de Blasio said.
New York City Public Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña said that the city’s education department would be “looking into this incident and… providing schools with additional information on our protocol and more trainings.”
“All students, regardless of immigration status, are welcome in New York City public schools, and parents should rest assured that we will do everything in our power to protect students, staff and families,” Fariña told Newsday.
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