Parents in Texas have been advised their kids could be questioned about their immigration status and even deported while riding school buses.
A stark letter went out Wednesday to families whose students attend Alice ISD in South Texas – about an hour’s drive from Corpus Christi.
With a largely Hispanic student body, including some pupils who may not be in the US legally, the district stated it has information Border Patrol agents could board school buses on their way to extra curricular activities.
‘If a student is found to be without proper documentation, they may be removed from the bus, detained, and possibly deported under current immigration policies,’ the message from the superintendent reads.
‘Additionally, if a student provides false information regarding their citizenship and it is later discovered, this could result in a permanent bar to future US citizenship.’
Illegal immigrant children are entitled to enroll in US public schools, with most campuses never inquiring about their immigration status.
Alice ISD told DailyMail.com the have been told any interactions with Border Patrol agents could happen at well-known, permanent highway checkpoints.
Usually stationed within 100 miles of the US-Mexico border, Border Patrol checkpoints are stationary and known to travelers.
Alice ISD sent this letter to all parents in its district
All northbound traffic is and always has been subject to inspection.
US Border Patrol did not immediately respond to a DailyMail.com request– asking what its specific protocol for school buses is and for questioning minors who may be without a parent or guardian.
The Trump Administration recently did away with long-standing practices that would keep federal agents from going into schools and churches in search of illegal immigrants.
‘Furthermore, we are considering additional measures, such as having a designated chaperone vehicle travel with school buses,’ the letter continues.
‘In the event that a student is detained, a school administrator in the chaperone vehicle would be able to stay with the student while the rest of the group continues their journey.’
Despite the worst case scenario planning, a spokeswoman for the district added that the communication was sent to parents ‘out of an abundance of caution’ and that there was no specific incident that triggered it.
A Border Patrol checkpoint located just north of Eagle Pass, Texas stops all traffic headed north to San Antonio
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents and K-9 security dog keep watch at a checkpoint station, on Feb. 22, 2013, in Falfurrias, Texas
A US Border Patrol checkpoint, north of Las Cruces, New Mexico
The letter’s release comes amid a national crackdown on illegal immigrants where Trump has promised to go after criminal migrants or ‘the worst first.’
However, Trump has promised to deport anyone who is in the country illegally, campaigning on carrying out the largest deportation operation in US history.