On September 10, the first day of the 2026-27 school year, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) in New York City reminded immigrant families that all age-appropriate children residing in New York City have the right to receive free public education, regardless of the immigration status of the child or parent. New York City public schools will not require students or parents to provide immigration status. At the same time, in the face of federal immigration enforcement, the city government is strengthening efforts to provide “Know Your Rights” information to immigrant families.
MOIA stated that New York City public schools provide academic, social-emotional, and language support to new immigrant students and families through the “Open Arms” program.
As the new school year begins, MOIA is expanding community outreach by distributing “Know Your Rights” information in multiple languages to help immigrant families understand how to respond if they encounter federal immigration enforcement officers, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), near their residence, workplace, or child’s school.
Director of MOIA, Faiza N. Ali, expressed that for many immigrant families, the start of the school year may bring both anticipation and fear and uncertainty. Therefore, the city government aims to ensure that families can access reliable information, legal rights, and relevant assistance in their familiar language.
New York City Schools Chancellor, Kamar H. Samuels, stated that public schools welcome all students, and the schools will continue to collaborate with MOIA to assist immigrant families in accessing necessary resources.
It is emphasized by the city government that whether a student can attend New York City public schools does not depend on the student’s or parents’ immigration status. NYCPS affirmed that schools will not inquire about the immigration status of students or families.
Regarding information related to ICE enforcement, the city government is providing immigrant families with various “Know Your Rights” materials, including “red cards” and “yellow cards” on how to handle encounters with ICE at residences or workplaces, actions to take if a family member or friend is detained by ICE, as well as rights comic books created specifically for students and families.
MOIA also reminded immigrant parents to update their children’s emergency contact information so that in case of unforeseen circumstances where parents or caregivers are unavailable, there will still be someone to pick up and care for the child.
New Yorkers in need of immigration legal assistance, regardless of their immigration status, can call the toll-free and confidential Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 1-800-354-0365 or dial 311 and say “Immigration” to access services in the respective language.
The hotline operates on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM; and on the last Saturday of each month from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The city government also encourages immigrant families to review NYCPS’s “Protect Your Family and Know Your Rights” materials, as well as guidelines on dealing with ICE enforcement, detainment of relatives or friends, and emergency family arrangements.