Immigrant Students & Families

All students are legally guaranteed a free public education, regardless of their immigration status, as established by the Plyler v. Doe U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Under most circumstances, by federal (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, FERPA) and state law, the district is prohibited from disclosing student information without parental consent.

Even if Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents present a removal warrant (deportation order) to a school staff member, the district will generally refrain from providing student information.

If the district is served with a subpoena or court order, disclosure may be required. In this case, district staff may be required to share information from a student’s educational record. The district follows all notification requirements prior to making any disclosures.

Undocumented students can pursue higher education and MHASD shares scholarship opportunities. Legal and emotional support is available to help students navigate these processes. See the resources below for more information.

The district has protocols in place to support families in the event of law enforcement activity near our schools.

If you have concerns about deportation, immigration enforcement, or legal matters, we encourage you to seek support from local and national organizations or consult with an immigration attorney.

The following local organizations provide legal assistance, emotional support, and resources for immigrant families:

• Centro Hispano

  Centro Hispano works to improve the quality of life for Latinos and others living in Dane County by empowering youth, strengthening families, and engaging the community. A primary goal is to see Latino youth prepared to succeed in life by finishing high school, being prepared for postsecondary education and engaging positively in their communities. Immigration services; DACA, naturalization, permanent residency and family are provided Monday-Friday and free consultation with an immigration attorney by appointment. Languages served: English, Spanish.

  micentro.org | 608-255-3018

• Voces de la Frontera

  24/7 hotline to report law enforcement raids or apprehension. Call or text 414-418-9409.

  Wisconsin’s largest Latino and low-wage worker membership organization and a leading immigrant rights advocacy organization in the state. Groups operate in Milwaukee, Racine, Madison, Green Bay, Walrus County and Waukesha, and they serve immigrants of all nations. If you have an immigration related emergency, call or text 414-418-9409. Languages served: English and Spanish.

  vdlf.org/ | 414-643-1620

• Dane County Immigration Affairs

  Support in navigating Dane County immigration services and referral process. 

  https://danecountyhumanservices.org/Children-Youth-and-Family/Immigration-Affairs 

• Community Immigration Law Center (CILC)

  Free, walk-in immigration consultation clinic at 944 E. Gorham St., Madison. Open the second and fourth Friday of each month from 2–5 p.m.  First come, first served. Languages served: English and Spanish.

  https://www.cilcmadison.org/ | 608-257-4845

• Immigrant Justice Clinic

  The Immigrant Justice Clinic (IJC) provides free legal services to Wisconsin's underserved immigrant community. Legal services may include applications for humanitarian relief for non-citizen victims of crime, persecution, and human trafficking, defense for non-citizens facing removal in Immigration Court, and briefs to the Board of Immigration Appeals on behalf of indigent non-citizens. IJC also works with criminal defense attorneys to negotiate plea agreements that avoid adverse effects to client's' immigration status. Law students work under supervision of a clinical instructor.

  law.wisc.edu/eji/ijc/ | 608-890-3753

• RISE Law Center

  Provides legal representation to immigrants and refugees in immigration law regarding VAWA Self Petition, U/T Visa, Adjustment of Status, Asylum Applications, DACA, Employment Authorization, Family-based Petitions, Naturalization, citizenship, Removal/Deportation hearings, etc. Most services are free. Languages served: English and Spanish. Interpreters in additional languages are available as needed. 

  riselawcenter.org/ | 608-256-1015

• Madison Path to Citizenship

  Provides assistance in navigating the naturalization process through information sessions and citizenship workshops. Attorneys assist in preparing required paperwork.

  Madison Path to Citizenship| 608-263-6735

• Legal Action of Wisconsin

  Provides free, personalized legal services to individuals with low-income. Services provided include, but not limited to, benefits and health, family law, housing law, employment and Social Security. Supports 12 different languages.

  legalaction.org/ | 608-256-3304

• Multicultural Student Center

  The Multicultural Student Center collaboratively strengthens and sustains an inclusive campus where all students, particularly students of color and other historically underserved students, can realize an authentic Wisconsin Experience.

  msc.wisc.edu/ | 608-262-4503

• Neighborhood Law Clinic

  Provides a variety of legal services including rental housing, employment, and public benefits law. Law students staff the community-based office at the UW South Madison Partnership space in the Villager Mall on Madison's South Side.

  law.wisc.edu/eji/nlc/ | 608-265-2441

• Unión de Trabajadores Inmigrantes

  This labor and community organization was created by and for workers to defend and foster the working and living conditions of working families in Dane County, Wisconsin, the US and internationally, advocating for equal rights for all workers of any race, national origin, immigration status, sexual orientation or any other class difference. Languages served: English and Spanish.

  https://www.facebook.com/utimadison/ | 608-345-9544 or 1-866-476-0884

• Wisconsin American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

  The country’s largest public interest law organization. The organization works daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country, including immigrants. Interpreters available.

  www.aclu-wi.org/ | 414-272-4032

• Workers’ Rights Center of Madison

  Provides advocacy for worker civil rights. Can assist with workers’ rights information, education, legal advocacy, advice and referrals and training. Free appointments available. Languages served: English, Spanish and Hmong.

  workerjustice.org | 608-255-0376

• Immigration LawHelp

  Helping low-income immigrants find legal help.
  https://www.immigrationlawhelp.org/

• Community Navigators (National Partnership for New Americans / NPNA)

  Volunteer activists trained to provide immigration support for their communities.
  partnershipfornewamericans.org/community-navigators/

• Immigrants rising

  California-based, collaborative non-profit that empowers undocumented young people to achieve educational and career goals. Provides updated information on national policies and resources.
  https://immigrantsrising.org/

• National Immigrant Justice Center

  NIJC protects human rights and provides access to justice for all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. 
  http://www.immigrantjustice.org/

• School House Connection

  Update on Immigrant Students: How Schools can help. Federal rules on immigrant youth and families are changing rapidly, from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to enforcement actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This brief provides basic information about eligibility for education services, and practical suggestions for schools.

• Bridging Refugee Youth and Children's Services (BRYCS)

  BRYCS aims to strengthen the capacity of refugee-serving and mainstream organizations across the U.S. to empower and ensure the successful development of refugee children, youth, and their families.
  https://brycs.org/

• Madison Area Technical College

  The Madison College Scholars of Promise program helps income-eligible recent high school graduates realize their dream of attending college by removing financial barriers. For more information please visit the Scholars of Promise website. 

• Centro Hispano

  Centro Hispano works to improve the quality of life for Latinos and others living in Dane County by empowering youth, strengthening families, and engaging the community. A primary goal is to see Latino youth prepared to succeed in life by finishing high school, being prepared for postsecondary education and engaging positively in their communities. Immigration services; DACA, naturalization, permanent residency and family are provided Monday-Friday and free consultation with an immigration attorney by appointment. Languages served: English, Spanish.

  micentro.org | 608-255-3018

• Multicultural Student Center

  The primary mission of the Multicultural Student Center is to collaboratively strengthen and sustain an inclusive campus where all students, particularly students of color and other historically underserved students can realize an authentic Wisconsin Experience.

  https://msc.wisc.edu/

• RISE Law Center

  Provides legal representation to immigrants and refugees in immigration law regarding VAWA Self Petition, U/T Visa, Adjustment of Status, Asylum Applications, DACA, Employment Authorization, Family-based Petitions, Naturalization, citizenship, Removal/Deportation hearings, etc. Most services are free. Languages served: English and Spanish. Interpreters in additional languages are available as needed. 

  riselawcenter.org/ | 608-256-1015