ICE Operation Sparks Panic at Lindenwold School Bus Stop

Students fled in fear as enforcement vehicles arrived near their bus stop, prompting district response.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

The Lindenwold School District reported that fourth- and fifth-grade students waiting at a bus stop ran away in a panic when an ICE operation occurred nearby. A Ring video showed the children running and shouting "ICE! ICE!" The district said many students were "understandably upset and emotional" upon arriving at school, and a district leader reached out to representatives to advocate for protocols to prioritize student safety during future ICE operations.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the impact that ICE enforcement actions can have on vulnerable populations, especially children, and the need for policies that protect student safety during such operations. Lindenwold has been subject to previous ICE actions, raising concerns in the community.

The details

According to the district, the incident happened in the morning as students were waiting for their bus at the Woodland Village Apartments. The presence of "multiple enforcement vehicles" caused "significant fear and confusion," leading several students to run from the bus stop. The bus driver circled back multiple times to ensure as many children as possible were safely transported to school.

  • The incident occurred on the morning of February 13, 2026 as students were waiting for their school bus.

The players

Lindenwold School District

The school district that reported the incident and is advocating for protocols to protect student safety during ICE operations.

Louis Cappelli Jr.

The Camden County Commissioner Director who called the "absolute chaos" of the ICE operation "appalling" and said segments of the population are being "terrorized and scared to leave their homes."

Jonathan Young

A Camden County Commissioner who said that under Trump, ICE has been "inhumane" in how it conducts operations, and that this incident is another example of that.

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What they’re saying

“The presence of multiple enforcement vehicles caused significant fear and confusion, and several students ran from the bus stop. Our bus driver acted quickly and responsibly, circling back multiple times to ensure as many children as possible were safely transported to school.”

— Lindenwold School District (sanluisobispo.com)

“The absolute chaos sowed by this ICE operation in Lindenwold this morning was appalling.”

— Louis Cappelli Jr., Camden County Commissioner Director (sanluisobispo.com)

“As a former Lindenwold resident I'm disgusted to watch the videos of children running in absolute terror along a busy county thoroughfare.”

— Jonathan Young, Camden County Commissioner (sanluisobispo.com)

What’s next

A protest called "ICE Out of Lindenwold" has been announced for Friday afternoon at the Lindenwold Borough Hall in response to the incident.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the need for policies and protocols that prioritize the safety and wellbeing of children during ICE enforcement actions, especially in communities that have been repeatedly targeted. The trauma and fear experienced by these students is unacceptable and highlights the broader impacts of aggressive immigration enforcement on vulnerable populations.