In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to ensure that all schools in Pennsylvania protect all students regardless of their immigration status. Not only will this legislation be a crucial step in ensuring Pennsylvania schools are in compliance with federal regulations, but it will also increase schools’ accountability to the students and families they serve by helping to alleviate the trauma and stressors students can experience before, during, and after immigrating.
 
The “Welcoming Schools” law would require school districts to implement procedures for responding to immigration enforcement at schools. As we continue to unpack the details and disastrous impacts that many of the Executive Orders signed by the new administration in Washington will have on our Commonwealth, our immigrant communities in all our Senate districts are now living in a heightened state of fear.
 
In just the first few days of the new administration, a long-standing bipartisan ICE policy was rescinded that prohibited U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting immigration enforcement in public schools. Without that protection and safeguard in place, it is imperative that we legislate a Welcoming Schools policy that would limit ICE enforcement on school grounds, protect student privacy, and reaffirm that education is accessible to all students, regardless of immigration status. Every single student deserves to be protected and deserves the opportunity to learn and succeed. This bill would affirm schools as welcoming places for all students, affirm the right of all students to attend school, and limit immigration enforcement within schools in Pennsylvania.
 
Please join me in supporting all Pennsylvania students and ensuring that our schools
are safe spaces for learning and free from disruption.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1369 (Dec 22, 2025): P.L.30, No.14