Resources and Guidance for Immigrant Students and Families

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SFUSD is aware of news reports regarding potential increased federal immigration enforcement activity in California. We want to remind families that SFUSD is a safe haven for all students regardless of citizenship status. Every student has the right to attend school regardless of the immigration status of the child or of the child’s family members. SFUSD has protocols for school staff in the event immigration officials attempt to enter a school, and all staff review them at the start of each school year.

To help our families stay informed and prepared, we want to share the following resources and guidance: 

SFUSD Immigration Policy and Resources

Be Prepared

It’s important for every family to have a plan in case of any emergency or separation.

Report Immigration Enforcement Activity: Rapid Response Network

Many counties in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, have a 24 hour multilingual hotline in place to investigate possible immigration enforcement activities in the community and to offer emergency legal support.  

For San Francisco, please call (415) 200-1548 if a student, caregiver, or community member:

  • Suspects or sees immigration officials in their neighborhood or at their home
  • Is detained by immigration officials

A list of Rapid Response hotlines for other counties is available at this link.

Know Your Rights and Get a Legal Consult

If you have concerns about possible immigration enforcement, we encourage you to consult with an attorney. Resources to get started:

Student and Family Communication

We strive to be mindful of how we communicate to families about reports related to potential immigration enforcement. We believe it is important to remain calm and only communicate known facts, and to focus on sharing information and resources to students and families that are empowering. 

When large group notifications must go out, SFUSD contacts families by phone, email and text message using a system called SchoolMessenger, which is one of the most widely used communications tools for PK-12 districts. We use the contact information from a family’s enrollment application, emergency cards and Family Portal (ParentVUE), and sometimes a school may ask families for updated contact information. SFUSD and SchoolMessenger do not share any of our students’ or families’ information, and we follow federal regulations on student and user privacy. Please make sure your contact information is up-to-date.

Support at School

If you have concerns or need support, please reach out to your school’s support staff or principal. Newly arrived refugee and immigrant families can contact SFUSD’s RISE-SF program through the link on this flier or by emailing RISE-SF@sfusd.edu.

SFUSD Immigration Policy and Resources