Immigrant Families in Minnesota Face Fears Sending Kids to School

Thousands of children staying home due to concerns about immigration enforcement near schools

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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In Minneapolis, immigrant families are grappling with the difficult decision of whether to send their children to school, as they fear being targeted by federal immigration agents. Many parents have stopped taking their kids to school, while others are taking extreme measures like having strangers drive their children to avoid detection. Schools, parents, and community groups are working to help students get to class safely, but the fear of deportation has led to a surge in school absences and demand for online learning.

Why it matters

This story highlights the immense challenges and fears faced by immigrant families in Minnesota, who are forced to make the impossible choice between their children's education and the risk of deportation. It underscores the broader impact of aggressive immigration enforcement on vulnerable communities and the erosion of the principle that all children have a constitutional right to attend public school, regardless of their immigration status.

The details

Thousands of federal immigration officers have been deployed around Minnesota, leading to a climate of fear and uncertainty for immigrant families. Many parents have stopped taking their children to school, either keeping them home or relying on strangers to drive them, in an effort to avoid detection by immigration authorities. Schools, parents, and community groups have mobilized to help students get to class safely, but the fear has led to a surge in school absences and demand for online learning.

  • In January 2026, over 9,000 students were absent from St. Paul schools, more than a quarter of the district's 33,000 students.
  • In the Minneapolis suburb of Fridley, school attendance has dropped by nearly a third since the increased immigration enforcement presence.

The players

Giancarlo

A 10-year-old boy who still attends school in Minneapolis, despite his mother's fears.

Liam Conejo Ramos

A 5-year-old boy who was detained with his father while arriving home from school in the Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights.

Rene Argueta

The family liaison at Valley View Elementary School, who organized teachers to walk and drive students to and from their homes to ensure their safety.

Jenna Scott

A second grade teacher at Valley View Elementary School who tried to keep conversations with students light during the walks home to avoid scaring them.

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What they’re saying

“God, please protect my son when he's not at home.”

— Giancarlo's mother (Associated Press)

“I don't feel safe with him going to school. But every day he wakes up and wants to go. He wants to be with his friends.”

— Giancarlo's mother (Associated Press)

“The teachers cry. It's sad.”

— Giancarlo (Associated Press)

“It raises my blood pressure.”

— A mother from Mexico (Associated Press)

“ICE viene. ICE is coming.”

— A young girl (Associated Press)

What’s next

Schools, parents, and community groups will continue to work together to find ways to safely transport students to and from school, as the presence of federal immigration officers in the area shows no signs of abating.

The takeaway

This story underscores the devastating impact of aggressive immigration enforcement on immigrant communities, as families are forced to choose between their children's education and the risk of deportation. It highlights the critical role that schools, parents, and community organizations play in supporting and protecting vulnerable students, and the urgent need for policy changes to ensure that all children can access their constitutional right to education without fear.