Purpose

• To restrict access to child care centers by federal agents and establish procedures that must be followed before any entry is allowed.

Main Provisions

• The director, staff, substitutes, and unsupervised volunteers at a licensed child care center or a certified license-exempt child care center must not allow entry to a federal agent employed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for any purpose without meeting specific requirements.
• Required conditions for entry include:
  • Providing valid identification.
  • Supplying a written statement of purpose for the visit.
  • Possessing a valid judicial warrant.
  • Receiving approval from the child care center license holder.
• If these conditions are met, the center must limit the agent’s access to areas where children are not present.

Scope and Coverage

• Applies to:
  • Licensed child care centers.
  • Certified license-exempt child care centers.
  • Directors, staff, substitutes, and unsupervised volunteers at those centers.

Exceptions and Limitations

• Entry is still allowed if required by state or federal law or as needed to administer a state or federally supported child care program, but the process above governs most visits by federal agents.

Significance and Practical Implications

• Establishes a formal process to protect children and center operations from unsolicited or unverified federal visits.
• Places a clear gatekeeping role on the center license holder for any federal entry.
• May affect how centers train staff and volunteers to respond to federal inquiries or visits.

Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a new statutory requirement (Section 142B.665) governing how federal agents may access child care center facilities.
• Creates explicit procedures (identification, purpose statement, warrant, and license-holder approval) and directs limiting access to non-child areas when criteria are satisfied.

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Relevant Terms - federal agent - United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) - valid identification - written statement of purpose - valid judicial warrant - approval from the child care center license holder - child care center - licensed child care center - certified license-exempt child care center - director - staff - substitutes - unsupervised volunteers - areas where children are not present - Minnesota Statutes chapter 142B