Brevard Schools Outline Policies for Handling ICE Agents on Campus

District says staff must comply with lawful requests, but outlines procedures to limit access to students and records.

Feb. 8, 2026 at 4:31am

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Brevard Public Schools has procedures in place for how staff should respond if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents come to a school campus. While the district says staff must generally comply with ICE, they can limit access to students and records without a court order. This contrasts with the Sarasota school board, which passed a resolution pledging support for ICE and disciplining staff who interfere. Brevard students planned walkouts to protest ICE's actions, but the district warned of disciplinary consequences for disrupting school.

Why it matters

The presence of ICE agents on school campuses has become a growing concern for immigrant communities and their advocates, who worry it could lead to the detention and deportation of undocumented students. Brevard's policies aim to balance compliance with the law and protecting student privacy and wellbeing, while Sarasota has taken a more supportive stance toward ICE's actions.

The details

Brevard Public Schools requires staff to generally comply with ICE agents but has procedures in place, such as requiring a court order to access students or records. In contrast, the Sarasota school board passed a resolution pledging support for ICE and penalizing staff who interfere with their actions. Brevard students planned walkouts to protest ICE's actions, while district leadership warned of disciplinary consequences for disrupting the school day.

  • In February 2025, Brevard Public Schools issued a memo to staff outlining procedures for handling ICE agents on campus.
  • On January 20, 2026, the Sarasota school board approved a resolution pledging support for ICE and disciplining staff who interfere.
  • On February 6, 2026, Brevard students were planning to walk out in protest of ICE's actions on school campuses.

The players

Brevard Public Schools

A school district in Brevard County, Florida that has procedures in place for how staff should respond if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents come to a school campus.

Sarasota school board

The school board in Sarasota, Florida that passed a resolution pledging support for ICE and disciplining staff who interfere with their actions.

Rachad Wilson

The Chief Operating Officer of Brevard Public Schools who issued a memo to staff outlining procedures for handling ICE agents on campus.

Bridget Ziegler

The chair of the Sarasota school board who proposed the resolution pledging support for ICE.

Mark Rendell

The superintendent of Brevard Public Schools who warned that protests against ICE during school hours would result in disciplinary action.

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What they’re saying

“Our top priority is the physical and mental wellbeing of our students and staff. School personnel must comply with lawful requests. BPS remains committed to providing all students with an education, regardless of immigration status.”

— Janet Murnaghan, Brevard Public Schools spokeswoman

“We remain committed to providing all students with an education, regardless of immigration status. The Office of Legal Services and District Security are available to assist schools if ICE conducts enforcement actions on campus. We will ensure that all procedures are followed properly and in accordance with the law, without obstructing ICE's duties.”

— Rachad Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, Brevard Public Schools

“While students may express their views in appropriate, lawful ways outside of the school day and off school property, disruptions to learning and campus operations will not be tolerated.”

— Matt Susin, School Board Chair, Brevard Public Schools

What’s next

The judge in the Sarasota school board case will decide on Tuesday whether to uphold or overturn the resolution pledging support for ICE.

The takeaway

Brevard Public Schools' policies aim to balance compliance with the law and protecting student privacy and wellbeing, in contrast with Sarasota's more supportive stance toward ICE's actions on school campuses. This highlights the differing approaches districts are taking to address the growing presence of immigration enforcement on school grounds.