At a Norfolk School Board meeting on Wednesday, board member Tanya Bhasin raised an issue on the minds of many local residents: immigration enforcement.

She noted the changes in immigration policy “on the federal level,” and proposed passing a resolution for Norfolk Schools “stating our position of protecting our students and families first from that type of immigration activity.”

“In light of what we’re seeing happening, what other steps can we take to make sure that we have strong protocols and policies and that everyone knows what they are?” Bhasin said.

Hampton Roads has seen an uptick in immigration-related arrests over the past year. As actions continue across Hampton Roads, some local school districts have policies in place if immigration agents come to school grounds, and for what to do for the children of parents who have been detained.

According to Portsmouth Public Schools spokesperson Lauren Nolasco, if Immigration and Customs Enforcement were to come to a Portsmouth school, they would need to present a valid judicial warrant to gain access to the campus.

“The warrant will be reviewed by central administration to ensure that the search is legally justified on school grounds before agents would be granted further access to any school building.”

Similarly, in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, any law enforcement action must be supported by proper documentation, and school staff are required to notify the administration.

According to a statement from Virginia Beach City Public Schools, “Schools are required to comply with applicable laws and law enforcement requests during the school day. We remain committed to following the established procedures that safeguard the rights, safety, and well-being of our students and staff.”

In Chesapeake, “no individual or agency is permitted unrestricted access to our buildings without following these procedures,” said spokesperson Jay Lewter. “We also strictly follow state and federal laws to protect student privacy and do not share confidential information without appropriate legal justification.”

He added that Chesapeake Public Schools are not aware of any enforcement actions at their schools.

In Minnesota, a high-profile ICE detainment of a 5-year-old on his walk home from school last month shocked Americans nationwide. During the November immigration enforcement surge in Charlotte, North Carolina, as many as 30,000 students reportedly stayed home from school.

Patricia Bracknell, president and founder of the Chamber for Hispanic Progress, said some Latino families across Hampton Roads are keeping their children home from school in fear of immigration enforcement.

“That’s the biggest issue we’re having,” said Bracknell. She added that remote learning options are not always being made available to students who stay home out of fear.

Enforcement actions across Virginia have had a direct impact on students. A Richmond-area high school student was detained at a courthouse in August despite being in the process to obtain a green card. He was later released.

A lawfully present father was detained in Richmond after walking his son to the school bus stop in September. In October, the mother of a teenager was arrested while taking her daughter to school in Harrisonburg.

That’s happening in Hampton Roads, too, said Bracknell. She said she’s heard of parents being taken away in every school district.

“One of the stressors of the situation has been with parents being taken away while they’re dropping off their kids to school, and the trauma of the kids is trying to find the relatives or who’s an emergency contact,” said Bracknell. “We have seen a few of them having to spend time in foster care until a relative was contacted or found in the country or outside the country.”

In Virginia Beach, when a parent or guardian is unable to pick a student up from school, the school starts by reaching out to the child’s emergency contact list.

“If all contacts have been exhausted and we are unable to ensure the child’s safe pickup, the Virginia Beach Department of Human Services may be contacted in accordance with standard protocols,” according to Virginia Beach City Public Schools.

In Hampton and Newport News, if a student cannot be released to a parent, guardian or a designated emergency contact, the schools work with local social services to coordinate care.

In August, Norfolk Public Schools sent a letter to families reiterating that federal law enforcement agents “generally need a warrant to gain access to a student.” It encouraged families to keep their emergency contact information up-to-date.

At Wednesday’s School Board meeting, Bhasin said she is proud of the work being done in the district to make students and families feel safe, but called for clarifying school policies.

“I think that is the piece that there is a lack of clarity around: for everyone to know what our protocols and policies are.”

Emma Rose Brown, emma.brown@virginiamedia.com

https://www.pilotonline.com/2026/02/07/immigration-hampton-roads-schools/