Schools share student data with ICE without parental consent in 100+ districts

Electronic Frontier Foundation obtained contracts through public records requests showing over 100 school districts share Flock Safety camera data with ICE. The sharing began in late 2025 and early 2026.

Flock Safety operates automated license plate readers (ALPRs) that capture every vehicle entering or leaving school property. The system records license plates, make, model, color, and timestamps.

ICE agents access Flock's database without warrants to track vehicles associated with suspected undocumented immigrants. The system creates a searchable database of student and family movements.

None of the 100+ districts notified parents about ICE data sharing. EFF found no public board votes or policy discussions before the sharing began.

ICE arrests at or near schools increased 400% in January and February 2026 compared to the same period in 2024, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement data obtained by Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

Privacy advocates argue the sharing violates FERPA, which protects 'personally identifiable information from education records.' School districts claim parking lot surveillance isn't an education record.

The American Federation of Teachers warned the surveillance will cause immigrant families to keep children home from school. Chronic absenteeism already increased 12% in districts with known ICE enforcement activity.