The El Paso Independent School District has given the Texas Comptroller's Office records showing how many students are enrolled using a Social Security number and how many use a state-approved alternative identification number. Some people have raised concerns that the data could be used to target undocumented students.
EPISD board President Leah Hanany confirmed to El Paso Matters that the district provided the requested records. She said the records alone cannot be used to determine citizenship status. Districts assign an alternative number when a family does not provide a Social Security number. Hanany said the comptroller's office appears to be trying to learn which students have Social Security numbers, but she said that cannot be determined from the data, because anyone can register a child using an alternate number.
According to a Thursday news release from state Rep. Vince Perez of El Paso, the comptroller's office asked for the data but told the district not to provide identifying student information. EPISD is one of four districts under review by the comptroller's office after Gov. Greg Abbott requested a state financial investigation. Perez said the review used a financial assessment of EPISD to collect documents unrelated to the district's finances. Comptroller Don Huffines did not respond to a request for comment.