By: Ashmar Mandou

To coincide with the return to school, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law a bill that aims to prohibit public schools from denying undocumented children a pre-k public school education because of their actual or perceived immigration status. H.B. 3247 was sponsored by Illinois State Representative Lillian Jiménez and State Senator Karina Villa. MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and the Latino Policy Forum led the coalition to push the bill through the Illinois state legislature. H.B. 3247 prohibits measures that have the effect of excluding or discouraging students from school or school programs due to their immigration status, such as requesting a Social Security number.  

“Every child has a right to a public education, and every child must feel safe and secure at school to learn,” said Hector Villagra, MALDEF vice president of Policy Advocacy & Community Education. “This bill goes a long way toward ensuring that is true for every child in Illinois, prohibiting schools from adopting policies that prevent or discourage undocumented children from enrolling and requiring schools to protect the integrity of classroom environments by adopting procedures to restrict ICE and other law enforcement actions on campus.” H.B. 3247 takes effect January 1, 2026. “The national environment targeting immigrant communities has led to parents and students, immigrant and non-immigrant alike, feeling fearful and anxious about going to school — not only afraid for themselves or their family, but afraid for their classmates and friends,” said Martín Klein, MALDEF legislative staff attorney in Chicago. “This bill challenges the environment of fear targeting our school communities and provides reassurance to parents and students that Illinois schools are safe places for all students, regardless of immigration status.”