Schools Sue DHS Over Ending Protected Zone Policy

Duluth and Fridley school districts, along with the state teachers union, file lawsuit to restore DHS policy designating schools as protected from immigration enforcement.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Two Minnesota school districts and the state teachers union have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for rescinding a long-standing policy that designated schools as protected zones where immigration enforcement cannot be conducted. The lawsuit alleges the DHS violated administrative procedures when it ended the policy in 2025, leading to increased federal agent presence and detentions of parents and students on school grounds.

Why it matters

The lawsuit aims to restore a policy that has helped ensure schools remain safe havens focused on student learning, rather than places of fear and disruption from immigration enforcement actions. School leaders say the policy's end has led to escalating federal agent activity on campuses, harassing staff and detaining families.

The details

Duluth Public Schools, Fridley Public Schools, and the state teachers union Education Minnesota filed the lawsuit, arguing the DHS violated administrative procedures when it rescinded the long-standing Protected Areas Policy in 2025. That policy, first issued in 1993, had forbidden DHS from conducting immigration enforcement in protected zones like schools, hospitals, and churches. Since the policy's end, school leaders say they have seen a rise in federal agent presence on campuses, including masked agents circling grounds, staging operations in parking lots, harassing staff, and detaining dozens of parents and students.

  • The DHS Protected Areas Policy was first issued in 1993.
  • The policy was rescinded by the Trump administration in January 2025.
  • The lawsuit was filed by the schools and teachers union on Wednesday, February 6, 2026.

The players

Duluth Public Schools

A Minnesota school district that is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the DHS.

Fridley Public Schools

A Minnesota school district that is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the DHS.

Education Minnesota

The state teachers union in Minnesota that is a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the DHS.

John Magas

The superintendent of Duluth Public Schools.

Brenda Lewis

The superintendent of Fridley Public Schools.

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What they’re saying

“The time for strongly worded letters is over. This is not a partisan issue. It is wanting just to make sure that our students are safe and able to focus on learning when they are in school, rather than worrying about immigration enforcement.”

— John Magas, Superintendent, Duluth Public Schools (Minnesota Public Radio News)

“It has been escalating every single day.”

— Brenda Lewis, Superintendent, Fridley Public Schools (Minnesota Public Radio News)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to grant an injunction to temporarily restore the DHS Protected Areas Policy while the lawsuit proceeds.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement and the need to maintain schools as safe, welcoming environments focused on student learning. The outcome could set an important precedent on the limits of federal agents' ability to conduct operations on school campuses.