Cultura y noticias hispanas del Valle del Hudson
On January 21st, after months of public commentaries, emails, and calls from the community, the Kingston City School District Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a declaration stating all school districts, buses, and school events are Safe Zones against Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) activity.
The nine-point Resolution, titled Guaranteeing a Safe School Environment for All, explains that any possible activity within or near district properties, transportation routes, and school events from authorized federal immigration officers is a disruption to students' learning environment and interferes with a student's ability to learn and access a free K-12 public education. Additionally, the District also recognizes the impact and trauma that these threats can provoke (including the separation of families or the deportation) on students’ emotional well-being, their security, and their learning.
The resolution was not an internal district initiative. Rather, it was through the hard work from community organization led by Ulster Rapid Response (URR) that this was achieved. URR is a nonprofit organization based in Kingston, made up of more than 400 volunteers dedicated to mobilizing people and resources to support, protect, and defend immigrants in Ulster County. According to a statement released by URR on January 24, it was the volunteers from the organization, formed in January 2025, who drafted the resolution and attended multiple school board meetings to explain its scope and advocate for its adoption.
The KCSD resolution seeks to keep ICE and other immigration enforcement agents away from schools and students, while providing support to families and staff affected by immigration enforcement activities. By declaring the district a Safe Zone, the Board is committing itself to protecting students and families from non-local law enforcement agencies, such as ICE, in all school environments, including buses, school grounds, classrooms, and school events.
The resolution also commits the district to protect the privacy of all personally identifiable information of the students and their families. It will also provide resources to staff, students, and families to help them understand their rights, gain access to support to confront trauma related emergencies, and prepare plans in case a family member is detained or deported. The resolution incorporates language from the National Education Association, adopted by school districts nationwide over a decade ago, along with the most recent guidelines from the New York Civil Liberties Union. The members of URR have presented a draft of the resolution to the Board in a previous meeting.
During public meetings, Superintendent Dr. Paul Padalino noted that many of the resolution’s points were already district practices. For this reason, more than anything the resolution is primarily “a statement of leadership and commitment by the School Board to protect students and families, and it demonstrates the Board’s intention to develop and clearly communicate procedures and resources—including, but not limited to, Know Your Rights information, family preparedness, and community resources.”
URR is also committed to continue including parents and members of the community in other school districts to work together to protect public schools throughout the county from federal immigration enforcement incursions. Hopefully, the work and effort of those who attended the Board of Education meetings every 15 days from September 2025 through January 2026 will serve as proof that change is possible and should also be an example for every Hudson Valley school district to adopt and enforce similar resolutions.
Of course, the resolution does not stop federal policy or completely eliminate fear. It is also essential that parents, students, and teachers throughout the community learn about the resolution and that Know Your Rights workshops are held regularly. Still, immigrant families in Kingston know that, at least within schools, they are not alone.
Mariel Fiori
Managing Director COPYRIGHT 2026
La Voz, Cultura y noticias hispanas del Valle de Hudson
The nine-point Resolution, titled Guaranteeing a Safe School Environment for All, explains that any possible activity within or near district properties, transportation routes, and school events from authorized federal immigration officers is a disruption to students' learning environment and interferes with a student's ability to learn and access a free K-12 public education. Additionally, the District also recognizes the impact and trauma that these threats can provoke (including the separation of families or the deportation) on students’ emotional well-being, their security, and their learning.
The resolution was not an internal district initiative. Rather, it was through the hard work from community organization led by Ulster Rapid Response (URR) that this was achieved. URR is a nonprofit organization based in Kingston, made up of more than 400 volunteers dedicated to mobilizing people and resources to support, protect, and defend immigrants in Ulster County. According to a statement released by URR on January 24, it was the volunteers from the organization, formed in January 2025, who drafted the resolution and attended multiple school board meetings to explain its scope and advocate for its adoption.
The KCSD resolution seeks to keep ICE and other immigration enforcement agents away from schools and students, while providing support to families and staff affected by immigration enforcement activities. By declaring the district a Safe Zone, the Board is committing itself to protecting students and families from non-local law enforcement agencies, such as ICE, in all school environments, including buses, school grounds, classrooms, and school events.
The resolution also commits the district to protect the privacy of all personally identifiable information of the students and their families. It will also provide resources to staff, students, and families to help them understand their rights, gain access to support to confront trauma related emergencies, and prepare plans in case a family member is detained or deported. The resolution incorporates language from the National Education Association, adopted by school districts nationwide over a decade ago, along with the most recent guidelines from the New York Civil Liberties Union. The members of URR have presented a draft of the resolution to the Board in a previous meeting.
During public meetings, Superintendent Dr. Paul Padalino noted that many of the resolution’s points were already district practices. For this reason, more than anything the resolution is primarily “a statement of leadership and commitment by the School Board to protect students and families, and it demonstrates the Board’s intention to develop and clearly communicate procedures and resources—including, but not limited to, Know Your Rights information, family preparedness, and community resources.”
URR is also committed to continue including parents and members of the community in other school districts to work together to protect public schools throughout the county from federal immigration enforcement incursions. Hopefully, the work and effort of those who attended the Board of Education meetings every 15 days from September 2025 through January 2026 will serve as proof that change is possible and should also be an example for every Hudson Valley school district to adopt and enforce similar resolutions.
Of course, the resolution does not stop federal policy or completely eliminate fear. It is also essential that parents, students, and teachers throughout the community learn about the resolution and that Know Your Rights workshops are held regularly. Still, immigrant families in Kingston know that, at least within schools, they are not alone.
Mariel Fiori
Managing Director COPYRIGHT 2026
La Voz, Cultura y noticias hispanas del Valle de Hudson
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