ST. PAUL, Minn. — This week, the Trump administration sent a surge of nearly 2,000 federal ICE agents into Minnesota, with possibly more set to arrive this weekend. As a result of this unwarranted show of disproportionate force, a Minneapolis woman named Renee Good has been shot and killed by an agent, students and staff at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis were attacked with chemical weapons by a group of agents, whole school districts have canceled school days, and hundreds of other Minnesotans have been harassed and detained.
Our schools serve as vital community hubs where children learn, grow, and develop into responsible citizens. The presence of ICE in these spaces creates an atmosphere of fear and anxiety among students and their families. This fear not only hampers a child’s ability to learn but also undermines the fundamental principle that every child deserves access to education without the threat of deportation or separation from their families.
At the same time, these tactics of community intimidation have caused many of Minnesota’s students to fear leaving their homes, being out in public, and attending school. School districts across the state are showing decreased attendance rates as a result. Following ICE’s clash with students and staff at Roosevelt High School, Minneapolis Public Schools chose to cancel classes and extracurricular activities out of an abundance of caution for students and staff for the remainder of the week.
In response to these actions by the federal government, the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Senate Education Committees – Senator Mary Kunesh (DFL-New Brighton), Senator Steve Cwodzinski (DFL-Eden Prairie), Senator Heather Gustafson (DFL-Vadnais Heights), and Senator Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley) – released the following statement:
“Our schools must remain a safe place for all students, parents, and staff. ICE’s continued presence in our state is causing further trauma, chaos, and grief to our residents. The unwarranted use of pepper spray and chemical weapons on school grounds, directed at our students is absolutely unacceptable. Our children need to be at ease in the classroom, free from harassment by masked federal agents. Minnesota has always prided itself on being a welcoming state. We recognize that a diverse population enriches our communities, and our schools reflect this diversity. By targeting students and their families, ICE is directly contradicting our commitment to inclusivity and respect for human rights.
“In normal times, we appreciate open and honest communication and cooperation with our federal counterparts. However, ICE’s actions in our state are causing much more harm than good. We demand that the Department of Homeland Security keep ICE away from Minnesota schools, and leave our state immediately. The presence of masked federal agents is not making our state safer. Rather, they are heightening tensions and creating fear, panic, and anxiety among our residents. Our students need to be in safe learning spaces, not worrying about being pepper sprayed on their way home from school. Teachers should be focusing on lesson plans, not emergency plans in case ICE comes knocking on their classroom doors. Parents need peace of mind knowing their children are safe from abduction, intimidation, and harm.
“Furthermore, we are grateful to Minnesotans for remaining peaceful and calm amidst federal agents’ chaos. The federal government is using any excuse to escalate their violent tactics against the people of our state, and our peaceful demonstrations deny them that opportunity. As Minnesotans, we are stronger when we band together. We will not let those who preach hatred divide us. Organize, check in on your friends, family, and neighbors, and don’t take the bait.”
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