LOWELL — The same day that an armored vehicle bearing markings from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was spotted in Lowell, the Lowell School Committee met Wednesday night to review the impact of recent enforcement activities on its student body and families.
Assistant Superintendent of Equity Latifah Phillips’ motion response addressed the Lowell Public Schools’ response to changes in the federal immigration policy.
“While the high school has not observed a noticeable drop in attendance directly linked to recent immigration and deportation executive orders,” Phillips said, “the school remains aware that several families have already been personally impacted and social workers are actively supporting these students and families, guiding them to the appropriate resources and ensuring their well-being.”
The city of Lowell historically has been home to vibrant immigrant communities. Since January 2024, the former UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center has been a home for hundreds of people staying at the emergency assistance shelter on Warren Street.
The majority of the families are migrants fleeing unrest and violence in Haiti and Venezuela. They were legally admitted to the United States under a federal program called Temporary Protected Status, which allows residency for urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit.
Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ended TPS for 500,000 Haitians living in the country effective Aug. 3 — TPS wasn’t slated to expire until March 2026. And effective April 7, TPS will end for almost half of the 600,000 Venezuelans legally living in the United States. By September, the other half may also lose their TPS protection.
Overall, the family demographic at the ICC is 80% Haitian migrants, 10% U.S. citizens and a small population of Venezuelan migrants. Just months remain before the families at the ICC must either self deport before the deadlines or run the risk of being deported. But the presence of masked ICE agents prowling the streets of Lowell alarmed residents, which district officials said they were addressing through a variety of supports and services.
“The changes in federal immigration policy have had a profound impact on the district’s families, and multiple offices are working in collaboration with community partners to provide information and support for families,” Phillips said.
Lowell High School social workers are connecting students and families with Northeast Legal Aid and distributing “Know Your Rights” resources to help them navigate any immigration-related concerns.
Additionally, the school’s student support family liaison team has responded to numerous calls from parents expressing concern about ICE and has informed them of the school district’s protocols should ICE officials arrive on campus.
At a February School Committee meeting, Superintendent of Schools Liam Skinner affirmed the district’s support for its migrant students and families, as well as the rights of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) students in the community.
“We have sought in several ways to reassure students and families in the community that we understand their rights and intend to protect their rights and interests,” Skinner said.
The district emailed a message from Skinner to the community, and distributed a “Know Your Rights” flyer in several languages from the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition to families. Legal or undocumented, the flyer gives basic, immigration, driving and detention rights, as well as legal help resources and family preparedness information.
Recently, LPS received $100,000 in grant funding from the Healey-Driscoll administration to improve student access to behavioral and mental health services and support.
The district expanded its mental health supports, and the Equity Office is collaborating with Lowell’s RISE Coalition whose mission is to foster a welcoming environment for refugees and immigrants and support a successful integration into the Lowell community.
Social workers in the mental health, social-emotional learning and the behavior department have been informed of the ICE procedures for schools.
“Finally, trauma-informed trainings has occurred in 12 schools and been delivered to two classes of teachers through the New Teacher Academy,” Phillips said. “These trainings provide Tier I supports to support all students feeling welcome and safe in our school buildings.”
The district is coordinating a community resource fair to connect various community agencies with students and families to be held April 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Lowell High School Cafeteria, 50 Father Morissette Blvd.