U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (UCIS) said two officials went to a Queens elementary school Thursday to confirm facts about a fourth grader's enrollment.
The agency — which is part of the Department of Homeland Security but not directly affiliated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — said the verification was for what they call an "immigration benefit request."
USCIS said the student, who attends P.S. 58 in Maspeth, was not the subject of the request, and the officials did not ask to see or speak with the child.
The mayor's office said an officer came to the school looking for the student and was turned away because he did not have a warrant.
USCIS said school visits are not routine, but they are not unusual.
Under city education department protocol, school officials are not required to allow non-local law enforcement onto school property.
"All students, regardless of immigration status, are welcome in NYC public schools, and parents should rest assured that we will do everything in our power to protect students, staff and families," Schools Commissioner Carmen Fariña said in a statement. "The federal agent was turned away — we're looking into this incident and are providing schools with additional information on our protocol and more trainings."
Mayor Bill de Blasio has pledged that the NYPD will never come after undocumented immigrants.