Last updated: September 2009
Bishops, Catholic Charities staff, and Catholic school officials have inquired about whether Catholic schools can legally enroll undocumented children. As states and municipalities have taken an increasing interest in immigration issues over the last few years, some Catholic school officials have expressed concern that the enrollment of undocumented children in Catholic schools will raise legal issues. This article responds to those concerns and provides an overview of the relevant law. The article answers the following questions:
- Can undocumented children enroll in kindergarten through twelfth grades?
- Do undocumented children have a right to a free public school education?
- Can a school ask for a child’s Social Security Number?
- Can a school require proof of address? Can a school require a child’s birth certificate?
- Are schools required to submit information about undocumented students to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)?
- If a school official learns that a child is undocumented, can she disclose that information to a third party?
- Are there practices that a school may not engage in?
To read the article, click here.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 Catholic Schools and Undocumented Students final.pdf | 127.84 KB |