Every Milwaukee Public Schools site is a Safe Haven for individuals of all ethnicities, religions, cultural backgrounds, immigration statuses, and sexual orientations or identities.

The district knows that actions by immigration agents elsewhere in the Midwest have caused concern, including in the MPS and greater Milwaukee communities. While recent reports of increased activity here turned out not to be true, there is still real fear for many.

The district wants to remind its students, families, and staff of important information.

Immigration status and enrollment

• MPS does not ask for immigration status of families. No public school has a basis to deny children access to education based on immigration status, according to federal court rulings.

What would happen if an immigration agent came to a school

• The school would call a HOLD, which means students stay in their classrooms and staff lock classroom doors. (The HOLD action is part of the nationally recognized Standard Response Protocol used by schools across the country.)
• The school would refer the individuals away from the school and to MPS Central Services and the Department of Student Services. (These practices are consistent with how the district handles other law enforcement requests.)
• Detailed steps are available in presentations posted on the Safe Haven webpage.
• In the coming weeks, at a time when students are not present, MPS school staff members will practice a HOLD action in order to be best prepared.

Our Safe Haven resolution and resources

• These practices are based on the district’s Safe Haven Resolution, which was approved by the Milwaukee Board of School Directors.
• The district continues to update the Safe Haven webpage with resources available in multiple languages.

Student-led walkouts

• MPS recognizes the rights of our students to share their opinions and views.
• Students at a number of high schools have led walkouts, which were not district- or school-organized or sponsored.
• When this happens, students are marked absent. Students are monitored while they remain on campus for their safety, and students who participate are allowed back into the building.

Staff political activity

• MPS also respects the personal civic engagement of our employees, however, such activities must occur outside of work hours and without the use of district resources.
• Employees may not engage in political-related activities during the workday, while supervising students, or while using district time or resources. This includes in-person activity, electronic communications, and the use of district systems.

The district's safety team continues to meet and review these issues so MPS can continue to keep its schools safe and welcoming. All schools now have bilingual posters declaring the schools as Safe Havens of learning and support. In this district, everyone is valued and no one is pushed aside. The Milwaukee Board of School Directors and MPS administration continue to support this fundamental belief.