Aspen School District creates protections against ICE agents 

Aspen School District has created a plan to stop Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from entering school property without a judicial warrant, according to a February correspondence with the community.

The plan, made in response to President Donald Trump’s authorization made in January to allow ICE officers to enter “sensitive” areas including schools, also aims to uphold the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and support students and their families who are struggling with immigration issues. 

According to the February correspondence from ASD Superintendent Tharyn Mulberry, “Schools are places of learning, not immigration checkpoints.” 

Colorado has since passed a law that limits ICE officers from being able to access those sensitive areas. 

The district and multiple teachers are not overly worried about the possibility of an ICE raid or of ICE officers appearing on campus. Aspen School District Board of Education President Christa Giezsl attributes this in part to the strong relationships ASD has with local agencies, as well as the rural nature of the community.

“We have gotten along well with our law enforcement and worked as partners with our law enforcement agencies,” Giezsl said.

According to Mulberry, ASD and its legal team ensured that their correspondence was cleared and encompassed. ASD’s policy is based on one primary directory.

“ICE agents will not be allowed access to people or information without a valid judicial warrant, and all staff are instructed to refer any inquiries to the district office,” he said.

Even off-campus sporting events are subject to the same directive. Staff are instructed to direct everything to the district office, and all decisions are made by him and his team.

“The mission is clear in Aspen School Districts,” said Aspen High School Spanish teacher Jasson Alonso Rodriguez. “In general, the environment is much better now after this communication.”

ASD is also partnered with Aspen Family Connections, a nonprofit run through the ASD. According to Rodriguez, AFC has partnered with an immigration lawyer who helps families understand what their rights are. They can also support families who are undergoing legal issues.

According to him, many families didn’t know what to do if approached by an agent before they were able to meet with the lawyer.

Other ICE pick-ups in other parts of the valley can have ripple effects that impact community members in Aspen, according to Mulberry. Law enforcement officials in May confirmed the only ICE activity within the Roaring Fork Valley since January was an arrest in Carbondale of an individual who had an outstanding warrant.

However, there have been few concerns voiced from community members since after the February correspondence, the district said.

Mulberry said that any time there’s ICE activity in the valley, “it creates a chilling effect” that impacts families in the surrounding school districts. Rumors are also common.

“I think (that) has really been troubling for a lot of our families,” he said.

ASD’s policy is to not turn over any information or access to individuals unless they are legally required.

“If they want to serve a warrant … there’s no obligation to help with that unless there’s a safety issue that directly affects the school,” he said.

The school has also connected with local nonprofits to help support students in the event that their parents or guardians are detained by ICE while they are in school. Mulberry says it’s a case-by-case basis, but they will follow the guidelines the family provides about what they would like to be done.