HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.R. NO.
173
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
HOUSE RESOLUTION
Requesting the department of education to develop, adopt, and implement a standardized emergency response plan governing immigration enforcement activity at or within one thousand feet of public schools and adopt policies and procedures to address immigration enforcement activity at certain school-related locations and events.
WHEREAS, under long-standing federal policy, the United States Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security designated schools, churches, hospitals, and other sensitive locations as places where immigration enforcement action was prohibited; and
WHEREAS, the presidential administration has weakened or eliminated protections for these sensitive locations, authorizing federal immigration officers to conduct operations in and around schools; and
WHEREAS, the effects of these weakened protections have been felt in Hawaii public schools; and
WHEREAS, there was a recent incident in which a young student at Konawaena Elementary School in Kona was removed from campus by a school official and turned over to federal authorities, ultimately leading to the student's deportation; and
WHEREAS, these immigration enforcement actions are contrary to Hawaii's values and lawful due process; and
WHEREAS, schools must serve as safe, stable, and supportive environments for all students; and
WHEREAS, unplanned immigration enforcement activity on or near schools causes fear, disruption to learning, and emotional distress for students and families; and
WHEREAS, while public schools must comply with applicable law, the Department of Education has a responsibility to ensure that school personnel are guided by clear protocols that prioritize student safety and continuity of education; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Education is requested to develop, adopt, and implement a standardized emergency response plan governing immigration enforcement activity at or within one thousand feet of public schools and adopt policies and procedures to address immigration enforcement activity at certain school-related locations and events; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to design the emergency response plan to:
(1) Protect student safety and emotional well-being;
(2) Minimize disruption to the educational environment;
(3) Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state law; and
(4) Provide clear guidance to school administrators and staff when immigration enforcement activity occurs on or within one thousand feet of school campuses; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the emergency response plan is requested to include but not be limited to the following components:
(1) Protocols for federal immigration enforcement presence;
(2) Student protection measures;
(3) Parental and guardian communication;
(4) Staff training;
(5) Coordination with complex areas and relevant state agencies; and
(6) Periodic review and updates of the emergency response plan to reflect changes in law or best practices; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to adopt policies and procedures to address immigration enforcement activity that may occur:
(1) On or within one thousand feet of school campuses;
(2) At school-sponsored activities and events; and
(3) On school buses and marked or known school bus stops during periods when school children are present at the stop; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education and Superintendent of Education.
OFFERED BY:
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Report Title:
Department of Education; Public Schools Immigration Enforcement; Emergency Response Plan