By Kelly Riddell
The Washington Times
Thursday, May 8, 2014

Attorney General Eric Holder said Thursday that all schools must enroll students whose parents are illegal immigrants, citing “troubling reports” that some districts are discriminating against children of undocumented parents.

“Public school districts have an obligation to enroll students regardless of immigration status and without discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin,” Mr. Holder said in a statement released by the Justice Department. He said his department will do “everything it can” to make sure schools meet this obligation.

Mr. Holder was joined by Education Secretary Arne Duncan in issuing new guidance to school administrators, telling them to be more flexible in accepting some documents from illegal parents and not to require others that may prove a child’s age and residence.

Although schools have a right to establish a child’s residency in a school district, they don’t need to require the parents have a state-issued drivers license or a Social Security card, to prove that they are in the country legally — producing a utility bill or lease is a fine substitute.

The guidance is based on a 1982 Supreme Court decision that says children of undocumented illegals have the right to a public education.

Despite the ruling, and earlier guidance given to school districts that speaks to admitting these students, Mr. Holder said, “we have continued to hear troubling reports of actions — being taken by school districts around the country — that have a chilling effect on student enrollment, raising barriers for undocumented children and children from immigrant families who seek to receive the public education to which they are entitled.”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...dren-illegals/