CT Republican Senators Call for Teachers Union President to Resign

Lawmakers criticize union leader's statement about ICE agents disrupting learning in schools

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Some Connecticut Republican state senators are calling for the resignation of Kate Dias, the president of the Connecticut Education Association (CEA) teachers union, after she posted a statement on the CEA website urging lawmakers to keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents away from schools, claiming they are "disrupting learning" and "filling families and staff with anxiety." The Republican senators say Dias' claims are "100% false, wrong, irresponsible and blatant fear-mongering" and that there have been no incidents of ICE agents dragging students out of classrooms in Connecticut. Dias is defending her statement, saying she is simply trying to protect the interests of students, teachers and public education.

Why it matters

This dispute highlights the ongoing political tensions around immigration enforcement and its impact on schools and students. The teachers union president's statement reflects concerns about the chilling effect ICE presence can have on undocumented students and families, while the Republican lawmakers argue her claims are exaggerated and undermine public confidence in schools. The outcome could influence how state and local leaders approach balancing immigration enforcement and safeguarding student wellbeing.

The details

In her statement on the CEA website, Dias wrote that ICE agents are "operating in and around our schools, disrupting learning, shattering a sense of safety and filling families and staff with anxiety." She urged "local, state and federal leaders to take immediate action to protect students and educators and ensure that every child can learn in a safe and welcoming environment." However, the Republican senators who are calling for Dias' resignation say her claims are "100% false, wrong, irresponsible and blatant fear-mongering." They argue that Connecticut state law requires school districts to identify a coordinator for ICE interactions, and that ICE agents work through that person, not by "dragging students out of classrooms." Dias is defending her statement, saying she is simply trying to fulfill her elected role of protecting the interests of students, teachers and public education.

  • On February 3, 2026, Connecticut Senate Republicans issued a statement calling for Dias to resign.

The players

Kate Dias

The president of the Connecticut Education Association (CEA) teachers union.

Connecticut Senate Republicans

A group of Republican state senators in Connecticut who are calling for Dias to resign.

Eric Berthel

A Connecticut state senator who is among the lawmakers calling for Dias to resign.

Gary Winfield

The Democratic vice chair of the Connecticut Education Committee, who defended Dias' concerns about student safety and emotional wellbeing.

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What they’re saying

“This cannot continue. Our students' physical and mental health must be a priority. We urge local, state and federal leaders to take immediate action to protect students and educators and ensure that every child can learn in a safe and welcoming environment.”

— Kate Dias, President, Connecticut Education Association (CEA website)

“She knows ICE agents are not dragging students out of classrooms. She knows that Connecticut state law requires a school district to identify a 'coordinator' for ICE interactions. The ICE agent works through that person. She portrays Connecticut schools as unwelcoming places filled with fear because of ICE. There has not been a single incident in a Connecticut school where ICE agents have done any of what she is proclaiming.”

— Connecticut Senate Republicans (Connecticut Senate Republican Caucus website)

“Every teacher, and every person who impacts our students in Connecticut, should be concerned about their safety and their emotional state. Given what's going on in our country right now, it makes sense for someone whose job it is to educate and protect children to be concerned about what's going on in Minnesota.”

— Gary Winfield, Vice Chair, Connecticut Education Committee (Statement to media)

What’s next

The Connecticut Senate Republicans have called for Dias to resign, and if she refuses, they want the CEA to terminate her employment. The outcome of this dispute could influence how state and local leaders in Connecticut approach the balance between immigration enforcement and safeguarding student wellbeing in schools.

The takeaway

This controversy underscores the politically charged environment around immigration enforcement and its impact on schools and students. While the Republican lawmakers argue Dias' claims are exaggerated, her statement reflects broader concerns about the chilling effect of ICE presence on undocumented students and families. Resolving this dispute will require finding ways to address legitimate student safety and wellbeing concerns while also maintaining public confidence in the school system.