On Thursday, the Obama administration issued a set of guidelines to prevent public schools from discriminating against the enrollment of undocumented students.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan released a statement reminding school officials that undocumented students have the right to public education from grades K through 12 under federal law.

"We want to be sure every school leader understands the legal requirements under the Constitution and federal laws, and it is our hope that this update will address some of the misperceptions out there," reads Duncan's statement, according to CBS News. "The message here is clear: let all children who live in your district enroll in your public schools."

In 1982, the Supreme Court ruled that undocumented children had the right to attend public schools in Plyler v. Doe, reports the Washington Post. In that decision, the Supreme Court affirmed that all children are guaranteed equal access to a basic public education, regardless of their immigration status.

However, after Arizona passed the anti-immigration bill SB 1070 commonly known as the "show me your papers" act into law in 2010, a number of state and local governments began cracking down on undocumented immigrants. Some states even passed laws requiring parents to provide additional documentation about the immigration status of the child or themselves.

Now, the Education and the Justice Department have teamed up to stress the need for "flexibility" in accepting documents from parents that prove a child's age and area of residence.

Attorney General Eric Holder also released a statement condemning schools that required parents to prove their status and the status of the children.

"Such actions and policies not only harm innocent children, they also markedly weaken our nation ... by leaving young people unprepared and ill-equipped to succeed and contribute to what is, in many cases, the only home they have ever known," he said.

"Public school districts have an obligation to enroll students regardless of immigration status and without discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin. We will vigilantly enforce the law to ensure the schoolhouse door remains open to all," Holder said, according to USA Today.