Communications Between Peekskill School District and ICE Regarding Immigration Enforcement (2025-Present)

Jordan Lassiter

Independent Investigative Journalist
Transparency Report
Email: Jordan@Lassiter.eu

February 12,2025

To:
Records Access Officer
Peekskill City School District
1031 Elm Street
Peekskill, NY 10566

Subject: FOIL Request – Communications Between Peekskill City School District and ICE Regarding Immigration Enforcement Policies

To Whom It May Concern,

Pursuant to the New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), Public Officers Law §§ 84-90, I hereby request access to and copies of all records, communications, and policies related to interactions, cooperation, or coordination between the Peekskill City School District (PCSD) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding immigration enforcement activities under the administration of President Donald J. Trump.

This request seeks to understand how the school district interacts with federal immigration authorities and whether students, staff, or families have been subject to inquiries, investigations, or enforcement actions by ICE.

Scope of Request: Specific Records Sought

I request copies of all relevant records, including but not limited to:

1. Communications Between Peekskill City School District and ICE
• Copies of all emails, letters, faxes, text messages, internal memos, and reports exchanged between PCSD officials, school administrators, security personnel, or school resource officers (SROs) and ICE from January 1, 2025, to the present regarding:
• Any requests for student, staff, or family immigration status information.
• Any ICE investigations, detainer requests, or inquiries involving individuals associated with the Peekskill school district.
• Protocols followed when ICE agents or law enforcement personnel request access to school property or student records.

2. School District Policies on ICE and Immigration Enforcement
• Copies of all policies, directives, or procedures issued by PCSD concerning:
• Compliance or non-compliance with ICE detainers or information-sharing requests.
• How school officials and staff are instructed to respond to ICE agents requesting access to students or records.
• Policies regarding notification to parents, legal guardians, or attorneys when a student or family member is targeted by ICE.
• Whether the district follows New York State’s sanctuary policies that limit local cooperation with ICE.

3. Training Materials and Guidance for Staff
• Copies of any training materials, guidance documents, or legal briefings provided to:
• School administrators, teachers, and counselors regarding how to handle ICE interactions.
• School resource officers (SROs) or any security personnel on how to respond to ICE enforcement actions on school grounds.
• Policies regarding student and family privacy rights under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) in relation to ICE data requests.

4. Agreements, MOUs, and Data Sharing with ICE
• Copies of any Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), agreements, or contracts between Peekskill City School District and ICE, including:
• Any formal agreements allowing ICE access to school records, facilities, or personnel.
• Any federal funding, grants, or financial incentives provided to the district for cooperation with ICE.

5. Records of ICE Visits or Enforcement Actions in Schools
• Any incident reports, call logs, visitor logs, or law enforcement records documenting:
• ICE agents visiting Peekskill schools for questioning, detentions, or surveillance.
• Any students, faculty, or parents detained or questioned on school grounds.

Legal Justification for Disclosure

This request is consistent with New York’s commitment to transparency under FOIL and aligns with the principle of public oversight of government actions affecting vulnerable populations (New York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713 (1971)).

Additionally, under Buffalo Broadcasting Co. v. New York State Dep’t of Correctional Services, 155 A.D.2d 106 (3d Dep’t 1990), the courts have upheld that non-exempt information related to public institutions must be disclosed to ensure government accountability.

New York State has taken steps to protect immigrant students from unwarranted federal intervention in schools (Matter of Westchester Rockland Newspapers v. Kimball, 50 N.Y.2d 575 (1980)). This request seeks to ensure compliance with these state protections and evaluate whether local policies align with federal and state laws.

Obligation to Preserve and Provide Records

Under Armstrong v. Executive Office of the President, 1 F.3d 1274 (D.C. Cir. 1993), government entities must preserve and disclose records that may be subject to public information laws. Accordingly, I request that no responsive records be deleted, altered, or destroyed while this FOIL request is under review.

Fee Waiver Request

I request a waiver of all applicable fees for processing this request. Disclosure of these records serves a critical public interest in ensuring the protection of immigrant students and families and is not for commercial purposes.

Under Matter of New York Times Co. v. City of New York Fire Dep’t, 4 N.Y.3d 477 (2005), fee waivers should be granted when disclosure benefits the general public by fostering informed discussions about government policies and their impact.

If a fee waiver is denied, I agree to pay up to $100 in processing fees. Please notify me in advance if costs will exceed this amount.

Request for Expedited Processing

Given the heightened concerns over immigration enforcement and student rights, I request expedited processing of this FOIL request. Under Matter of Westchester Rockland Newspapers v. Kimball, 50 N.Y.2d 575 (1980), timely disclosure of information concerning public safety and legal compliance is essential for public oversight.

Response Format and Timeline

As per Public Officers Law § 89(3)(a), I expect an acknowledgment of receipt within five (5) business days and a timeline for completion.

Please provide electronic copies of records whenever possible. If any records are withheld or redacted, I request a written explanation citing specific legal exemptions in accordance with Gould v. New York City Police Dep’t, 89 N.Y.2d 267 (1996).

Contact Information

Should you require any clarification or additional details, please contact me at Jordan@Lassiter.eu.

I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and your commitment to transparency.

Sincerely,
Jordan Lassiter
Independent Investigative Journalist
Transparency Report

Received Thank You .

Jordan Lassiter

Hi,

We don't have access to the Google file. Could you please share access with me at m******@muckrock.com?

Thanks for your continued help with this request.

[MuckRock email redacted]

Hi,

Thanks so much for your help! We were able to access the file.