Minneapolis-Area School District Celebrates Return of All Students After ICE Targeting

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After months of virtual learning due to fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in their community, over 500 students have returned to in-person classes at Columbia Heights Public Schools in the Minneapolis area. The school district was previously targeted by ICE, with federal agents patrolling the area and detaining some students and families. Now that ICE has pulled out of the area, the school district is celebrating the return of all its students with balloons, hugs, and a sense of renewed energy and community.

Why it matters

This story highlights the impact that aggressive immigration enforcement can have on local communities, especially schools and families. The Columbia Heights Public Schools district took proactive steps to support immigrant students and families, but the trauma and disruption caused by ICE's presence will likely have lasting effects. The return of all students is an important milestone, but the community remains on edge and continues to face challenges related to the previous ICE targeting.

The details

For months, Columbia Heights Public Schools was a prime target of the Trump administration's surge of ICE officers into Minnesota. ICE agents patrolled the heavily Latino community daily, traumatizing immigrant families and detaining some students and their families. In response, the school district offered virtual classes to over 500 students who felt unsafe attending in person. Now that ICE has pulled out of the area, all of those students have returned to in-person learning, greeted with balloons, hugs, and a renewed sense of community. However, the district has lost over 100 students due to families moving or unenrolling, and many immigrant staff and families are still facing asylum hearings that could force them to leave the community.

• In December, Columbia Heights Public Schools began offering virtual classes to students who felt unsafe attending in person.
• In mid-February, the Trump administration announced it was winding down its 'Operation Metro Surge' immigration enforcement in the area.
• By early March, ICE had pulled out most of its officers from the Columbia Heights community.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The school district continues to support immigrant families and staff members who are facing asylum hearings that could force them to leave the community. Many are requesting to stay until the end of the school year.