ALICE, Texas — A school district in South Texas is warning parents about reports of immigration officials boarding school buses traveling for extracurricular activities and asking students about their immigration status.
Alice Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Anysia Trevino sent a letter to parents on Wednesday saying the district had received information that U.S. Border Patrol agents “may be boarding school buses at highway checkpoints” in and out of the Rio Grande Valley.
“We strongly encourage families to be aware of the potential implications of these encounters,” the letter said. “If a student is found to be without proper documentation, they may be removed from the bus, detained, and possibly deported under current immigration policies.”
Trevino also cautioned against students lying about their immigration status to Border Patrol agents, as that could bar them from getting U.S. citizenship in the future.
Trevino said the district is reviewing its student travel waivers — which parents sign to allow their children to travel for events like sports and band and other activities not on campus — and is considering adding an advisory about this situation.
The district is also considering adding a designated chaperone to travel with school buses in the event a student got detained so someone could stay with the student.
“We understand that this information may be concerning, and we are committed to supporting our students and families through these changes,” the letter said.
Spectrum News 1 reached out to Border Patrol, and a spokesperson said "we don't board school buses." The spokesperson clarified that while Border Patrol agents would board other buses like coaches and charter buses at checkpoints, if the bus has students on board, agents would not enter the bus.
Trevino later sent an updated letter informing parents that Border Patrol agents have not boarded an Alice ISD bus, and she has no knowledge of it happening to other districts.
"In fact, it is our understanding that key members of the US Border Patrol have indicated that school buses and children will not be targeted. We are appreciative of the clarification," the letter reads.
All of this comes as President Donald Trump’s administration has ramped up immigration enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border and across the country.
After Trump signed a flurry of executive orders on his first day in office, the Department of Homeland Security rescinded a guideline put in place during President Joe Biden’s administration which barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from going into schools, places of worship and other sensitive areas.
The Defense Department also deployed 1,600 active-duty troops to the border, with a portion of them stationed in El Paso, Texas. Officials have said it is likely that more troops will be deployed, with some saying it could be as many as 10,000.
At the state level, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has worked hand in hand with the Trump administration. Because of an agreement with the federal government, Abbott this week empowered Texas National Guard troops to detain undocumented immigrants.
