Statement on the Educational Rights of Immigrant Students

Education

Statement on the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Letter on the Educational Rights of Immigrant Students

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice applauds Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey for today’s letter on the educational rights of immigrant students. Our Constitution demands equal protection – not just for U.S. citizens, but for all persons.  Thirty five years ago, in Plyler v. Doe, the U.S. Supreme Court made clear that all children have a fundamental interest in a public education that cannot be denied to them on the basis of their immigration status.  Providing equal access to public schools is as imperative now as it was then, and as it was in Brown v. Board of Education.  Amidst the uproar and confusion caused by the federal government’s anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric, we applaud the Massachusetts Attorney General for reminding us of these fundamental principles.

At the Lawyers’ Committee, we have long fought for educational rights of all students. From our role in desegregating Boston’s public schools, to our role in combating racial harassment at Boston Latin School, we are ensuring that schools are open and safe for everyone — regardless of race, color, creed, disability, national origin, immigration status, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation.

AG Advisory on Equal Access to Education (3-2-17)